RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tissue donation after death in the accident and emergency department: an opportunity wasted?
JF Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine
JO Arch Emerg Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 117
OP 119
DO 10.1136/emj.16.2.117
VO 16
IS 2
A1 H P Magrath
A1 L J Boulstridge
YR 1999
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/16/2/117.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the accident and emergency department (A&E) is a potential source of tissues for donation, from non-heart beating donors (NHBDs). METHODS: A telephone survey of 30 A&E departments was conducted to determine current tissue harvesting practices from NHBDs. The potential number of tissue donors in our own medium sized district general hospital A&E department was estimated. Senior nursing staff were asked to complete a questionnaire to establish their knowledge, attitudes, and experience of tissue harvesting from NHBDs. RESULTS: Only seven of the 30 A&E departments surveyed (23%) had an active involvement in requesting tissue donation after a sudden death. Several others had limited experience. The level of involvement was unrelated to department size. In our own A&E department, there were 110 deaths in 1995. Tissue donation had occurred on just three occasions. However, departmental staff attitudes towards reducing this shortfall were positive. CONCLUSIONS: The A&E department is a resource of tissues for donation, which is currently under used.