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Factors limiting organ donation in B aden‐ W ürttemberg
Author(s) -
FischerFröhlich CarlLudwig
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12157
Subject(s) - medicine , organ donation , limiting , donation , subarachnoid hemorrhage , demography , organ procurement , environmental health , transplantation , surgery , law , mechanical engineering , sociology , engineering , political science
Abstract In the G erman state of B aden‐ W urttemberg, the number of deceased donors from whom organs have been recovered has been decreasing over the past several years. We questioned whether changing donor age and/or cause of death ( COD ) were contributing to this trend. Methods All potential donors who reported to our regional B aden‐ W ürttemberg organ procurement organization were reviewed (2006–2010, n = 1771). Changes in age distribution and COD were analyzed, factors we thought might have affected the conversion from potential to successful organ donation. Results Between 2006 and 2010, the annual number of reported cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage ( SAH ) as the COD decreased from 117 to 65, while the number of deaths from other reasons increased from 264 to 294. Conversion rates were higher in the SAH group (56%) compared with the other reasons group (37%). Discussion Mortality rates are changing in certain devastating brain injuries. This, and other factors, may contribute adversely to organ donation rates.