Profile of organ procurement for transplantation in a large state procurement center

Abstract

Introduction: In Brazil, the scarcity of organs harvested for transplantation is a frustrating reality. There are several factors responsible for this situation. The present study aims to analyze the profile of organ harvesting at the Hospital de Pronto Socorro de Canoas (HPSC), Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in a database. Data regarding organ procurement from donors admitted to the HPSC were evaluated, in addition to data from the State Organ Procurement Center, in the period between January 2016 and July 2023. The variables analyzed were gender, age, cause of death (traumatic or non-traumatic), organs harvested, time between the diagnosis of brain death and organ harvesting, and the need for vasoactive drugs and transfusions in the preoperative period of harvesting. Results: During the period analyzed, 158 organ harvests were performed for transplantation, 108 (68%) in male patients and 50 (32%) in female patients. The median age of the patients was 47 years (IQR: 26, 58); Traumatic causes of death accounted for 67% of the sample (n=106), while non-traumatic causes accounted for 33% of deaths (n=52), and stroke accounted for 23.4% (n=37) of total deaths. Conclusion: Regardless of the number of organs harvested, the kidneys are the most removed organs, followed by the liver and corneas. The numbers show that over the years, there have not been very expressive numbers of captures, which may be the result of a low awareness of the importance of organ donation.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2024.005-005