Guidelines for the assessment and acceptance of potential brain-dead organ donors

Abstract

Organ transplantation is the only alternative for many patients with terminal diseases. The increasing disproportion between the high demand for organ transplants and the low rate of transplants actually performed is worrisome. Some of the Conflicts of interest: None. Final version: February 2016 Corresponding author: Glauco Adrieno Westphal Centro Hospitalar Unimed Rua Orestes Guimarães, 905 Zip code: 89204-060 - Joinville (SC), Brazil E-mail: glauco.w@brturbo.com.br Responsible editor: Alexandre Biasi Cavalcanti Diretrizes para avaliação e validação do potencial doador de órgãos em morte encefálica ABSTRACT causes of this disproportion are errors in the identification of potential organ donors and in the determination of contraindications by the attending staff. Therefore, the aim of the present document is to provide guidelines for intensive care multi-professional staffs for the recognition, assessment and acceptance of potential organ donors.