When to call Donor Network West (800-55-DONOR)

• Criteria
• All deaths
• Imminent deaths (vented patients with:
• Loss of 1 or more brainstem reflexes
• Discussion of withdrawing care
• GCS ≤ 5
• Call within 60 min of meeting criteria (Charge RN makes sure this happens)
• Document call (Discharge → Discharge as deceased → Transplant Network)
• DNW staff talks with the family about option of donation

Organ/tissue donation

• Tissue recovery to begin within 24 hrs of cardiac time of death (CTOD)
• Corneas within 6-12 hrs of CTOD
• Organ donation usually from braindead patients (organs can be artificially perfused with ventilator)
• Brain death criteria - no blood flow to brain/brainstem documented by testing (EEG, clinical exam, cerebral perfusion nuc med study)
• Clinical exam - lack of pupillary, corneal, oculocephalic, oculovestibular, gag/cough reflex, and apnea
• Must be pronounced by 2 physicians
• 1 of which is neuro/NSGY attending, chief resident, or ≥ PGY3 NSGY resident
• Cannot be involved with organ recovery/transplant
• Tissue donation usually after cardiac arrest