Craziest Trauma

[gutonc]

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I know this thread is on crazy traumas, but the topic of organ donation has been broached here. If brain death is established (by whatever means), what conditions preclude organ donation? I am sure the conditions of MRSA, Hep I, etc (contagious diseases all) would be considered, but what about EtOH levels, age of donor and so on. I guess some tissues may still be usable in some of these conditions. My 30 yo roomie recently passed with above the legal EtOH levels and donated some of his tissues (but no organs), however I am 60 and generally healthy (and a healthy registered donor). When would you just not bother to call out for donation services?

Aside from infection (and MRSA generally doesn't count unless the death is MRSA-related or there was active infection at the time of death...MRSA colonization is pretty common), disseminated malignancy is really the only other universal disqualifier and even then corneas and skin can be used. Age in and of itself isn't a contraindication but decreased organ function resulting from natural aging may make a particular 70 year old donor's heart no good but their kidney or lung may be totally fine.

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