Using Drug-Intoxicated Deaths as Potential Organ Donors: Impression of Attendees at the American College of Medical Toxicology 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting

Abstract

Introduction

Over the last decade, there has been a reduction of organ donation from intracranial haemorrhage-, stroke- and blunt trauma-related deaths in the USA. There has been a corresponding increase in the use of drug-intoxicated patients as organ donors from 2.1 % in 2003 to 6.8 % in 2013.

Methods

Questionnaire survey of attendees at the American College of Medical Toxicology 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting breakout session on transplantation from deaths related to poisoning was performed. Participants were asked whether they would recommend the use of solid organs from cocaine- or carbon monoxide-related death before and after the breakout session.

Results

Forty-eight US participants (attending 23, fellow 15, resident 3 and other (including non-medical) 7) completed the survey, and 97.8 and 89.1 % of participants would consider cocaine- and carbon monoxide-related deaths for potential organ donation pre-breakout session, respectively; this increased to 100 % for both post-breakout sessions. There was variability in the consideration of different solid organs (the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys)—76.2–95.2 and 76.2–85.7 % for individual solid organs for cocaine- and carbon monoxide-related deaths, respectively. For both scenarios, participants were least likely to consider potential heart donation (76.2 % of participants for both), which increased to 100 % following the breakout session.

Conclusions

Medical toxicologists have some reservation in recommending solid organs for transplantation from deaths from cocaine and carbon monoxide. Given the decrease in potential organ donors from typical methods of death, further work is needed to promote organ donation in deaths related to acute poisoning.