Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine (May 2016)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for the Support of a Potential Organ Donor with a Fatal Brain Injury before Brain Death Determination

  • Sung Wook Chang,
  • Sun Han,
  • Jung Ho Ko,
  • Jae-Wook Ryu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2016.31.2.169
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 2
pp. 169 – 172

Abstract

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The shortage of available organ donors is a significant problem and various efforts have been made to avoid the loss of organ donors. Among these, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been introduced to help support and manage potential donors. Many traumatic brain injury patients have healthy organs that might be eligible for donation for transplantation. However, the condition of a donor with a fatal brain injury may rapidly deteriorate prior to brain death determination; this frequently results in the loss of eligible donors. Here, we report the use of venoarterial ECMO to support a potential donor with a fatal brain injury before brain death determination, and thereby preserve donor organs. The patient successfully donated his liver and kidneys after brain death determination.

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