The role of emergency physicians about organ donation and organ transplantation at the emergency department

Organ transplantation is the operation of replacing a dysfunctional body part with another functioning and reliable organ or tissue that may undertake the same function, which is removed from a dead or an alive donor. The success ratio of organ transplantations has been improving in the recent years, due to immunosuppressive treatments and pharmaceutical options, as well as surgical developments. Regardless of all necessary and sufficient diagnosis, imaging and intervention of the emergency service; post-resuscitation brain death of a vitally critical patient may sometimes still follow. Bearing a suspicion in mind that the brain death might have eventuated after an unsuccessful resuscitation, the emergency physician shall consider the following question: "From now on, for whom this patient may become a hope of life?" The emergency physician shall then activate the procedure of brain death situation with such consciousness and awareness. It should be investigated that if the patient had been a voluntary donor during his/her health. Despite the existing emotional situations of patient's relatives, the emergency physician must anyhow evaluate their attitude towards the possibilities of organ donation. Related medical services must be called to examine the patient, in order to rule the probable diagnose of brain death. Hospital's organ transplantation coordination must be rapidly available, on 24 hours basis. In the meantime the physician shall take appropriate measures according to up-to-date instructions, to keep organs of the patient alive whose brain death has eventuated; for example one must manage hypothermia process and provide appropriate organ tissue perfusion. Consequent to an ineffective resuscitation, the emergency physician should swiftly take the initiative and manage the existing situation with an extraordinary caution. In this study, our purpose is to assess the awareness of emergency medicine physicians and we aim to contribute to the removal of troubles throughout operational procedures, regarding the organ donation and transplantation.