Organ donation after cardiac death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are often told that solid organ donation is not possible following death, although the reasons for exclusion are not evidence based. Because ALS patients typically remain sentient until death, organs may be procured under donation after cardiac death...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of neurology 2012-02, Vol.71 (2), p.154-156
Main Authors: Toossi, Shahed, Lomen-Hoerth, Catherine, Josephson, S. Andrew, Gropper, Michael A., Roberts, John, Patton, Kim, Smith, Wade S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - physiopathology
Blood & organ donations
Death
Female
Humans
Tissue and Organ Procurement - methods
Tissue and Organ Procurement - organization & administration
Transplants & implants
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Summary:Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are often told that solid organ donation is not possible following death, although the reasons for exclusion are not evidence based. Because ALS patients typically remain sentient until death, organs may be procured under donation after cardiac death protocols. Anticipating this need, our institution created a process for organ donation in ventilator‐dependent ALS patients that was subsequently implemented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of organ donation in a patient with rapidly progressive ventilator‐dependent ALS. Ann Neurol 2012;71:154–156
ISSN:0364-5134
1531-8249
DOI:10.1002/ana.22525