Organ donation following brain stem death after ventricular assist device implantation

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2014 Mar;22(3):345-6. doi: 10.1177/0218492312470671. Epub 2013 Aug 14.

Abstract

The availability of donor organs is the biggest limitation for lung transplantation, and a significant proportion of patients die on the waiting list. We describe a case of a 44-year-old lady who developed subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral edema on second postoperative day after left ventricular assist device implantation. She was declared brain stem dead 2 days later, and her organs were transplanted to suitable recipients on the waiting list for lung, liver and kidney transplantation.

Keywords: Heart failure; Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Tissue and organ procurement; heart-assist devices; von Willebrand diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Death*
  • Brain Edema / diagnosis
  • Brain Edema / etiology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Lung Transplantation
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Donors / supply & distribution*
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting*
  • Ventricular Function, Left*