The Organ Donation Process

THE DONATION PROCESS

Trauma Scene

An individual may suffer an injury to the head from an accident, suffer an aneurysm in the brain, or may have been involved in an event that has caused lack of oxygen to the brain.

Transport

A team of paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMT) begin life-saving efforts at the scene. They communicate with emergency room doctors during transport to the hospital.

Hospital

Emergency room doctors and nurses have advanced life-support equipment ready when the ambulance or helicopter arrives. They evaluate injuries and continue life-saving measures including ventilator support (mechanical breathing), IV fluid, blood replacement, and medications. An operation may be needed to help in life-saving efforts. The patient is then transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).

ICU / Brain Death

Tests are performed of the brain to determine the damage caused by the accident or other event. Tests may show continued brain activity and blood flow through the brain. If tests show no blood flow through the brain, more tests are conducted to determine if the brain has died. Death is declared at the time brain death is determined.

Donation Evaluation

New Mexico Donor Services is called by the hospital to evaluate the patient's medical suitability for donation. Even though brain death has been determined, the mechanical ventilator continues to provide oxygen to the major organs.

Consent for Donation

The driver's license organ donor registry is checked to verify if the patient had signed up to be a donor. The patient's family is informed of the decision to be a donor and the donation process is explained to the family. If the patient had not signed up to be a donor, the family is then asked for permission for the donation. All hospital costs incurred in the donation process are paid by New Mexico Donor Services.

Organ Placement

A computerized organ matching system (United Network for Organ Sharing)is utilized to find those awaiting life-saving transplants that match the donor's blood type, size, and tissue typing. Transplant candidates are also ranked based on medical urgency, time on the waiting list, geographic location and other medical criteria.

Organ & Tissue Recovery

The transplant center's surgical team arrives at the donor's hospital to remove the organs donated. Like other operations, this surgery takes place in the operating room. Organs are then transferred to the transplant center for the transplant operation. Tissue that is donated is recovered after the organs have been removed and the tissue is then prepared for transplant.

Funeral Arrangements

After the donation is complete, the body is transferred to the funeral home. Sometimes, an autopsy may need to be performed by the medical investigator to obtain more knowledge about the circumstances of the death. An open casket funeral is possible after donation. Funeral arrangements are made by the family.

Follow-Up

The family receives a letter from the donation program with information about the recipients of the organs, and the way tissue donation will benefit others. A bereavement program is also offered to families to help with their loss. The name of the donor and recipients are kept confidential, unless both parties decide to correspond or meet. New Mexico Donor Services will help with correspondence between families and recipients.