Question

Why is organ transplant donation after circulatory death controversial? What are the 2 requirements needed to declare circulatory death before organ donation? What is recommended to avoid autoresuscitation?

Answer 1

• Organ transplant donation after circulatory death is controversial because in circulatory death only lungs and heart functions are irreversible but brain may be functioning to a certain extent.The patients with circulatory death may be just alive with the help of life support devices like ventilators. The families of the circulatory death patient should be willing for discontinuing life support which will result in death of patient.
• The requirements are the patient should be suitable potential donor with permanent cessation of respiration ,circulation and knowledge of protocol or clarity in law allowing organ donation of circulatory death patient.A doppler study can be used as a confirmatory test to declare the patient as dead after removing all life support measures.
• Eventhough brain may be working to a certain extent in a circulatory death patient after removal of life support measures , oxygen in flow and circulation is ceased which leads to complete destruction of brain tissues which is irreversible.