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Observational Study
. 2024 Oct 24;14(1):25115.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76038-0.

A multicenter observational study to establish practice for circulatory death declaration for organ donation in South Korea

Han Young Lee  1 , Jae-Myeong Lee  2 , Jae Young Moon  3 , Choon Hak Lim  4 , Young Seok Lee  5 , Taehwa Kim  6 , Joohae Kim  7 , Dong Hun Lee  8 , Hong Joon Ahn  9 , Dong Hyun Lee  10 , Byung Ju Kang  11 , Ah Jin Kim  12 , Gil Myeong Seong  13
Affiliations
Observational Study

A multicenter observational study to establish practice for circulatory death declaration for organ donation in South Korea

Han Young Lee et al. Sci Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background This study aimed to determine the proportion of organ donors suitable for donation after circulatory death and investigate the current process followed by critical care physicians for declaring circulatory death to establish organ donation. Methods This observational study involved potential organ donors who had recently died after discontinuation of life support. We conducted an online survey of intensivists to determine how these deaths were confirmed. Results Among the 177 patients who died after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment across 19 intensive care units in 11 institutions, 49 (27.7%) were considered potential donors. According to general medical criteria for organ donation, 20 (11.3%) patients were identified as medically suitable donors. Notably, 116 (73.9%) patients exhibited a flat electrocardiogram within 5 min after the loss of pulse. In the survey, 90 physicians (59.2%) agreed to implement the concept of the 5-min no-touch period for the declaration of circulatory death. Conclusions This study found that 11.3% of the patients who died following the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in the intensive care units were identified as suitable donors after circulatory death. Most of critical care physicians agree with the concept of a 5-min no-touch period for the declaration of circulatory death.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Intensive care unit; Organ transplantation; Questionnaire; Survey; Withholding treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time from loss of pulse to flat electrocardiogram (ECG) wave.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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