ABSTRACT
Objective
To characterize the processes of brain death diagnosis and organ donation in a reference trauma center.
Methods
Observational and cross-sectional study with patients notified with brain death at a reference trauma center. Data were obtained through the collection of medical records and brain death declaration forms.
Results
One hundred fity-nine patients were notified with brain death, mostly male (82.6%), young adults (97.61%) and victims of brain traumatic injury (93.7%). Median of the total time interval for the diagnosis of brain death was 20.75 hours, with no difference between organ donors and non-donors. We had excessive time intervals on brain death declaration, but without statistical effect on organ donation numbers.
Conclusion
We had low efficacy in brain death declaration based on longer time intervals, with no impact on organ donation.
Brain death; Coma; Tissue and organ procurement; Brain injuries, traumatic; Wound and injuries