Table 2

Strategies to improve the viability of organs from the non-heart beating donor

  1. The uncontrolled donor (category I & II)

    • provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation after death

    • cannulation of the femoral vessels and organ perfusion

    • presumed consent to undertake the above in the absence of next of kin

  2. The controlled donor (category III)

    • trial of withdrawal of care

    • administration of drugs; steroids, antibiotics, heparin and vasodilators

    • cannulation of the femoral vessels to facilitate early organ perfusion

    • early diagnosis of cardiovascular death

    • rapid retrieval of organs after diagnosis of cardiovascular death