temp69
Well-known member
could a drowning victim be a heart donor? I know some of you are med school types. anybody have an opinion on this?
writer in need
writer in need
Transplant question
- Thread starter temp69
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hensylee
Well-known member
I don't know. I think the organ has to be harvested within a certain length of time after death for it to be good. There is somebody on this site who is no doubt searching sources to find out an answer for you, so just hang in there. This is the first time this question has come up. We have had a couple of transplant folks who were members but they don't stop in anymore.
G
geebee
Only if they were brain dead with the heart still beating. It is not impossible for a drowning victim to lose oxygen to the brain, be "revived" (have the heart restarted) but be brain dead. This would allow the person to be a heart donor.
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital is a major Heart Transplant facility.
Dr. James Kirklin is the Head of the Transplant Team, followed by Dr. David McGiffin.
I can give you contact information if you send me an e-mail.
'AL Capshaw'
Dr. James Kirklin is the Head of the Transplant Team, followed by Dr. David McGiffin.
I can give you contact information if you send me an e-mail.
'AL Capshaw'
Years ago I worked in a neuro intensive care unit and was involved in several (many?) cases in which organs were harvested and successfully used for transplant. I think the catagories of injury involved most frequently were auto accidents, cerebral aneurysms, and drownings. Ideally, the donor was in good health prior to being struck down by a catastophic event. I think it was pretty much the same when I was in the ER but oddly, we didn't run into it as much.
There are many issues involved and I remember the period when the patient no longer was a patient but became a donor and plan of care changes abruptly as well as financial issues such as when insurance coverage for the victim stops.
Why do you ask?
There are many issues involved and I remember the period when the patient no longer was a patient but became a donor and plan of care changes abruptly as well as financial issues such as when insurance coverage for the victim stops.
Why do you ask?
M
Mary
Yes.
My husband's job sometimes involves performing bronchoscopies on deceased patients who are potential organ transplant donors. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the procedure to see if the condition of the lungs is such that they could be used in a transplant. Last winter they had a case where a body had been submerged in cold water for some time, and although they couldn't resuscitate them, they were able to harvest most of the body organs.
On another note, twice in two weeks he's seen instances of patients who coded, were worked on (ventilated), declared dead, and in both instances, the patient spontaneously started breathing on their own and had good blood pressure readings--90/65. Both were put on ventilators, but they didn't survive.
My husband's job sometimes involves performing bronchoscopies on deceased patients who are potential organ transplant donors. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the procedure to see if the condition of the lungs is such that they could be used in a transplant. Last winter they had a case where a body had been submerged in cold water for some time, and although they couldn't resuscitate them, they were able to harvest most of the body organs.
On another note, twice in two weeks he's seen instances of patients who coded, were worked on (ventilated), declared dead, and in both instances, the patient spontaneously started breathing on their own and had good blood pressure readings--90/65. Both were put on ventilators, but they didn't survive.
