Critical pathway for deceased donors: An analysis in three regions of Colombia / Ruta crítica de donantes fallecidos: un análisis de tres regiones en Colombia

Introduction. The critical pathway for deceased donation offers a methodical framework for guiding the donation process. It not only serves to assess performance but also to identify areas of potential improvement. Therefore, the identification and selection of potential organ donors (POD) is a key process. This study aims to describe the critical pathway for deceased donation in a cohort of POD in three regions (CRT1, CRT2, and CRT5) of Colombia. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed data of POD assessed from January 2022 to December 2022. General characteristics of POD, diagnosis, contraindication causes, and organ procurement were described. Analysis was conducted using the Chi-squared test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables. Results. Within the cohort of 1451 assessed POD, 441 (30.3%) were diagnosed with brain death. Among potential donors after brain death, 198 (44.9%) were eligible donors (medically suitable). Of these, 157 donors (79.3%) became actual donors (undergoing operative incision for organ recovery), with 147 (93,6 %) having at least one organ recovered (actual donors with organ recovery). Ultimately, 411 utilized organs were utilized. Additionally, there were observed differences in the characteristics of donors from different regions. Conclusion. This study reports the critical pathway for deceased donation in a cohort of POD in three regions of Colombia. This provides useful information and helps to gain insight and understanding into the process of organ donation and organ procurement in order to take actions that could improve the donation rates.

Introducción. La ruta crítica de donantes fallecidos permite un enfoque sistemático para la donación de riñón, y, proporciona una herramienta para evaluar el rendimiento de áreas de mejora potencial. La selección de posibles donantes de órganos (PDO) es un proceso clave. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la ruta crítica para la donación de fallecidos en una cohorte de PDO en tres regiones de Colombia. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de PDO evaluados durante 2022. Se describieron las características generales de los PDO, el diagnóstico y las causas de contraindicación. El análisis se llevó a cabo utilizando la prueba de Chi-cuadrado para las variables categóricas y la prueba de Mann-Whitney para las variables cuantitativas. Resultados. Entre los 1451 POD evaluados, 441 (30,3 %) fueron diagnosticados con muerte cerebral. De los posibles donantes después de la muerte cerebral, 198 (44,9 %) fueron donantes elegibles (adecuados desde el punto de vista médico). Entre ellos, 157 donantes (79,3 %) fueron donantes reales (en quienes se realizó una incisión operatoria con la intención de recuperar órganos) y 147 (93,6 %) tuvieron al menos un órgano recuperado (donantes reales con recuperación de órganos). Finalmente, se identificaron 411 órganos utilizados. Conclusión. Este estudio reporta la ruta crítica para la donación de fallecidos en una cohorte de POD en tres regiones de Colombia. Esto proporciona información útil, ayuda a obtener conocimientos y comprender el proceso de donación y obtención de órganos, para tomar medidas que puedan mejorar las tasas de donación.

Ethic analysis of the role of incentive system in the organ donation after citizen’s death / 器官移植

Organ transplantation has demonstrated its significant values by its excellent effectiveness in health reconstruction and life survival, where organ donation is a major component in promoting the development of organ transplantation in China. In recent years, an important progress has been made in organ transplantation in China with an annually increased organ donation rate. In spite of this, there is a serious fact confronted by us that the donated organ quantity is insufficient, which may be solved by further improvement of medical science and public health policy. According to the international experience, an incentive system may improve the organ donation rate effectively although the hidden ethic property of the incentive system itself may have an essentially conflict with the altruism contained in the organ donation. Therefore, in this article, the property of the incentive system, the interaction between organ donation and incentive system and the ethic justification of the system was reviewed, aiming to provide a reference for the further development of the organ donation and transplantation business in China.

Capacity Building of Ethical Review of Organ Transplantation Ethics Committee in China / 中国医学伦理学

The construction of clinical application and ethics committee of human organ transplantation technology is constantly improving in China. The review of clinical application and ethics committee of human organ transplantation technology should follow the principle of prudence, with high requirements for timeliness and cumbersome preparation, and living organ transplantation needs to weigh the risk benefit ratio of both donors and recipients. According to the problems often existing in China’s clinical application and ethics committee of human organ transplantation technology, such as lack of supervision and guidance, lack of unified standard operating procedures, insufficient attention to the rights and interests of organ donors after citizens’death, the difficulties to judge and implement of brain death, lack of psychological assessment requirements and procedures, inadequate informed consent, etc. It can be solved from the following aspects: ensuring the independence of ethical review, strengthening the risk benefit ratio assessment of both donors and recipients of living organ transplantation, standardizing the review content, strictly implementing informed consent and medical psychological assessment to reduce the risks of both sides, enriching review methods to ensure timeliness, and strengthening the ethical review and supervision of organ donation.

Experience and Reflection on the Ethical Review of Organ Donation and Transplantation after Citizens’ Death in Medical Institution / 中国医学伦理学

In order to explore the ethical review experience of organ donation and transplantation after the death of citizens, and provide reference value for medical institutions to carry out corresponding ethical review. By using descriptive research, purpose sampling method and the principle of data saturation, 10 members and secretaries of ethics committee on clinical application of organ transplantation technology were finally selected as respondents for semi-structured interviews. The Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was adopted to analyze, summarize and refine the theme. The results showed that the ethical review experience of organ donation and transplantation after the death of citizens included four themes: the responsibilities of ethics committee, the key points of ethics review, the form of ethics review conference and its advantages and disadvantages, and the construction of the ethics committee of organ transplantation. Therefore, there are defects in the ethical review of organ donation and transplantation in medical institutions at present. These can be remedied by enriching elements of the ethical review following the four principles of medical ethics, refining the laws related to organ donation after citizens’ death, constructing a reasonable and efficient pattern of ethical review conference, and establishing a robust and appropriate operation mode of organ transplantation ethics committee.

Discussion on Difficulties of Ethical Review of DCD Organ Donation and Transplant based on Cases / 中国医学伦理学

The ethics committee of organ transplantation technology and clinical application in a hospital has encountered some difficulties and typical cases in its review work and practice for many years. Sometimes, it is difficult to make a decision in these dilemmas. Based on the previous experience of the hospital in the ethical review of organ donation and transplantation, combined with two typical cases, this paper discussed and analyzed two review points of whether the voluntary unpaid donation and the principle of informed consent were met, and whether the risk-benefit ratio was reasonable, and put forward relevant ethical and legal countermeasure for further research by institutional ethics committees and other parties, in order to provide reference for discussing the practical problems and ethical confusion of ethical review of organ donation and transplantation.

Ethical Thoughts on the Quality Evaluation of the Kidneys from Expanded Criteria Donors / 中国医学伦理学

In the case of extremely shortage of donor kidney sources, the number of Expanded Criteria Donors (ECD) with relatively poor kidney quality and transplantation effect is increasing. In order to alleviate the contradiction between supply and demand by using transplantable kidneys as much as possible and avoid the failure or poor effect of transplantation caused by poor quality kidneys, the quality assessment and evaluation criteria of ECD kidney have become a research hotspot in the field of kidney transplantation. This paper analyzed the possible ethical defects in the research process, and put forward some suggestions for the transplantation team to strictly follow the ethical principles of "no harm", "beneficial" and "informed consent", and the organ transplantation ethics committee to pay attention to the ethical review of the quality evaluation process of ECD donor kidney.

Qualitative Study on the Cognition Status of Organ Donors’ Family Members to Advance Care Planning / 中国医学伦理学

Discussing the cognition, attitude and influencing factors of the family members of organ donors towards advance care planning (ACP) to provide a basis for the further promotion of ACP in the field of organ donation. Using qualitative research methods, 8 family members of organ donors were selected purposefully for semi-structured interviews, and the 7-step of Colaizzi was used to analyze and summarize the themes of the interview data. The results showed that the cognition status of the family members of organ donors of ACP could be summarized into 3 themes: problems faced by ACP implementation, positive recognition of the implementation of ACP, factors affecting the promotion of ACP. Organ donors’ family members are unfamiliar with the concept of ACP and have unclear cognition, but think that the implementation of ACP is of positive significance. It is suggested to further strengthen the publicity of ACP, medical autonomy, death education, so as to promote the development of ACP and improve the willing to donate organ.

Organ Donation in the New Era under the Influence of Traditional Culture / 中国医学伦理学

The "Chinese model" of organ donation and transplantation in China has gradually been praised by the world. However, the shortage of organ is still the biggest difficulty at present, so it is urgent to improve the organ donation rate among the public and the number of individual organ donations. Through combing and analyzing some important values in Chinese traditional culture, this paper tried to help today’s organ donation find an appropriate value guidance, in order to promote the development of organ donation and transplantation in China.

Progress in quality management and control of donor organ procurement in foreign countries / 器官移植

Since the 20th century, organ transplantation has become a breakthrough technology to effectively save the lives of patients with end-stage organ failure, which has significantly enhanced the quality of life of patients. Organ donation is an important source of organ transplantation. Improving the quality of donor organ procurement is the key to promote the translation of donor organs and improve the prognosis of organ transplantation recipients. The United States, Spain and other countries have put forward a series of policies and standards in the quality management and control of donor organ procurement and achieved positive results. In this article, related concepts of medical quality management and control, advanced strategies and models of international donor organ procurement quality management, and quality control measures of Organ Procurement Organization, donors and donor organs were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for establishing a quality management and control system of donor organs with "Chinese characteristics" and advancing high-speed and high-quality development of donor organ procurement.

A survey on insight of blood donors during COVID pandemic in Southern India

ABSTRACT Introduction: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) surveys prove beneficial to the transfusion services by providing an insight into the donors and, thus, aiding in mobilizing and retaining voluntary blood donors. We aim to study the knowledge, attitude and practices of donors towards blood donation in a pandemic setting. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of blood donors was conducted between June to and October 2020. Non-parametric tests (Mann - Whitney U and Kruskal - Wallis) were performed to evaluate the relation of knowledge, attitude and practices overall scores with age group, gender and history of blood donations (first us. repeat). The Chi-Square test/Fisher's Exact test was used to evaluate the differences in the distribution of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices items within the groups. Results: A total of 403 of 2,748 individuals who came for whole blood donation participated in the study. The mean age of the study population was 31.1years (SD ± 8.4 range: 18 - 58), with 75% of the donors donating for the first time. The fear of acquiring COVID-19 infection was perceived as a major reason for the eligible population not to donate. The overall knowledge, attitude and practice score among the donors was satisfactory, being 76.14%, with a significant association with age. The overall positive attitude and practices scores of blood donors were 85.48% and 78.04%, respectively. Conclusion: The KAP scores were satisfactory among the donors. Timely communication of the precautionary measures at blood centers to contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection and effective counseling would help in motivating and retaining blood donors.

Bioética en donantes en asistolia controlada

Las campañas de prevención y promoción de salud, así como los avances en las medidas terapéuticas destinadas a los pacientes neurocríticos, han logrado reducir la incidencia de pacientes con injuria encefálica aguda (IEA) que evolucionan a la muerte encefálica (ME). Sin embargo, en la mayoría de los países de América Latina, los órganos perfusibles aptos para trasplante (TX) provienen de donantes fallecidos en ME. La donación en asistolia (DA), y en particular la donación en asistolia controlada (DAC), constituye una opción aceptada y válida para la obtención de órganos que contribuiría a la disminución de las listas de espera para trasplante. Durante el proceso de DAC, se aplican conceptos con fuerte impronta bioética cuya aplicación resulta fundamental en el momento de la toma de decisiones. El presente artículo tiene el objetivo de analizar dichos conceptos con la finalidad de otorgar herramientas válidas al equipo asistencial para aquellos procesos en los que existe deliberación moral, como ocurre en la donación de órganos en asistolia controlada, considerada parte integral de los cuidados al final de la vida.

Campaigns for health prevention and promotion, along with advancements in therapeutic measures for neurocritical patients, have succeeded in reducing the incidence of patients with acute brain injury (ABI) progressing to brain death (BD). However, in most Latin American countries, suitable perfusable organs for transplantation (TX) come from deceased donors in brain death (BD). Donation after circulatory death (DCD), particularly controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD), represents an accepted and valid option for organ procurement that would contribute to reducing transplant waiting lists. During the cDCD process, strong bioethical principles are applied, and their implementation is crucial when making decisions. The purpose of this article is to analyze these concepts, aiming to provide valid tools to the healthcare team for processes involving moral deliberation, such as controlled circulatory death organ donation, considered an integral part of end-of-life care.

As campanhas de prevenção e promoção da saúde, bem como os avanços na medidas terapêuticas voltadas para pacientes neurocríticos conseguiram reduzir a incidência de pacientes com lesão cerebral aguda que evoluem para morte encefálica (ME). No entanto, na maioria dos países latino-americanos, os órgãos que podem ser perfundidos adequados para transplante (TX) vêm de doadores falecidos em ME. A doação em assistolia e em particular a doação em assistolia controlada (DAC),é uma opção aceita e válida para a obtenção de órgãos, o que contribuiria para a redução das listas de espera para transplantes. Durante o processo DAC, são aplicados conceitos com forte cunho bioético, que são fundamentais na o momento da tomada de decisão. Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar esses conceitos, com o objetivo de oferecer ferramentas válidas à equipe de saúde, para os processos em que há deliberação moral como ocorre na doação de órgãos em assistolia controlada considerada parte integrante dos cuidados de fim de vida.

Fertilización asistida en mujeres de edad reproductiva avanzada, ¿quo vadis?

La donación de ovocitos y embriones se ha convertido en un procedimiento frecuente en mujeres infértiles en edad reproductiva avanzada, con una elevada tasa de embarazo. En estos embarazos aumenta la incidencia de eventos obstétricos adversos, como trastornos hipertensivos, diabetes gestacional, parto operatorio, entre otros, y mortalidad perinatal. Los embarazos múltiples aumentan significativamente los riesgos, por lo que se recomienda la transferencia de un solo embrión. Las pacientes deben someterse inicialmente a un examen médico integral que incluya evaluación cardiovascular y psicológica, evitando el tratamiento en mujeres con enfermedades crónicas que aumentan significativamente los riesgos. En este simposio se revisará el manejo de la infertilidad en mujeres en edad reproductiva avanzada con ovocitos propios y donados, las complicaciones obstétricas y perinatales, así como los aspectos éticos y las consideraciones especiales para tener en cuenta en este tipo de tratamientos.

Oocyte and embryo donation has become a frequent procedure in infertile women of advanced reproductive age, with a high pregnancy rate. In these pregnancies, the incidence of adverse obstetric events (hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, operative delivery, among others) and perinatal mortality increases. Multiple pregnancies significantly increase the risks, so single embryo transfer is recommended. Patients should have a previous comprehensive medical examination including cardiovascular and psychological evaluation, avoiding treatment in women with chronic diseases that significantly increase risks. This symposium ill review infertility management in women of advanced reproductive age with own and donated oocytes, obstetric and perinatal complications as well as ethical aspects and special considerations to consider in this type of treatment.

Fertilización asistida con óvulos donados: indicaciones y resultados

Las mujeres retrasan cada vez más la maternidad por diferentes motivos, lo que les ocasiona recurrir a tratamientos de fertilización in vitro (FIV) con óvulos propios u óvulos donados para conseguir embarazo. En los tratamientos de FIV con óvulos donados se realiza una selección estricta de las donantes, quienes son sometidas a estimulación ovárica con posterior aspiración de los folículos. La edad recomendada para donar es entre 21 y 34 años. Se recomienda un máximo de 6 donaciones por donante. La receptora es la persona a quien se le realizará la transferencia del embrión y llevará el embarazo. Las tasas de embarazo con esta técnica de reproducción asistida son altas y las indicaciones más frecuentes son edad materna avanzada y falla ovárica precoz.

Women are increasingly delaying childbearing for different reasons, which causes them to resort to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments with their own oocytes or donated oocytes to achieve pregnancy. In IVF treatments with donated oocytes, donors are strictly selected and undergo ovarian stimulation with subsequent follicle aspiration. The recommended age to donate is between 21-34 years old. A maximum of 6 donations per donor is recommended. The recipient is the person to whom the embryo transfer will be performed and who will carry the pregnancy. Pregnancy rates with this assisted reproduction technique are high and the most frequent indications are advanced maternal age and early ovarian failure.

A Gift of Blood: Opinions and Experience of Voluntary Blood Donors on Repeat Blood Donation

Donating blood is an essential practice that can help save lives. Effective strategies are necessary to attract and keep blood donors to meet the demand for safe blood. To evaluate the experience of voluntary blood donors in Zanzibar, a survey was conducted, and purposive sampling was used to select participants who had donated blood multiple times. The study involved interviewing 15 repeat blood donors, and the data collected was analyzed thematically. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: motivators and barriers. Despite a few negative effects, most participants had positive experiences with repeat blood donation, and only few experienced physical reactions during or after the process. The study concludesthat blood donors in Zanzibar generally have good experience towards repeat blood donation, although community participation, education, and sensitization are needed to recruit and maintain more donors.

Ethics of the use of dead human bodies in anatomy teaching in India

The study of the human anatomy predominantly requires the use of remains of the dead. Unclaimed bodies are easily available in India; however, there is a lack of clear ethical guidelines governing their transport and exchange. We raise pertinent questions about the ethical implications of using unclaimed bodies in teaching anatomy, their transport, transfer and storage, ethical and legal issues regarding the voluntary donation of bodies and dry human bones, as well as the commercial aspects of body donation. We also examine existing practices in anatomy departments in India, and explore the available legal safeguards. We detail practical and ethical challenges in the existing practices and safeguards and attempt to provide solutions.

Diálogo sobre doação de órgãos e tecidos: gamification na educação permanente em saúde / A dialog on organ and tissue donation: gamification in permanent education in health / Diálogo sobre donación de órganos y tejidos: la gamificación en educación permanente para la salud

RESUMO Objetivo: sistematizar a experiência da parceria ensino-serviço na elaboração e aplicação de um jogo virtual sobre doação de órgãos e tecidos enquanto proposta de educação permanente em saúde. Método: sistematização de experiência, conduzida por análise documental, envolvendo o processo de elaboração e aplicação de uma prática educativa de gamification por estudantes, professores e profissionais da enfermagem, que desenvolveram a estratégia e aplicaram em um hospital universitário no Sul do Brasil em setembro de 2020. Resultados: ante o contexto sanitário imposto pela covid-19, o jogo virtual composto por 20 questões em torno do processo de doação de órgãos e tecidos para transplantes, enquanto estratégia de educação permanente em saúde, inspirou engajamento e motivação dos profissionais, que mostraram escasso conhecimento acerca da temática e avaliaram a estratégia como positiva. Conclusão: evidenciou-se um caminho potencial a ser replicado em diferentes contextos e temáticas, estimulando e encorajando o processo de cuidado e de educação.

ABSTRACT Objective: to systematize the teaching-service partnership experience in the creation and application of a virtual game on organ and tissue donation as a proposal for permanent education in health. Method: systematization of an experience, conducted through documentary analysis, involving the process to create and apply an educational gamification practice by Nursing students, professors and professionals who developed the strategy and applied it at a university hospital in southern Brazil in September 2020. Results: given the health context imposed by COVID-19, the virtual game consisting of 20 questions about the organ and tissue donation process for transplants, as a strategy for ongoing health education, inspired engagement and motivation among the professionals, who showed limited knowledge about the theme and evaluated the strategy as positive. Conclusion: a potential path to be replicated in different contexts and scenarios was made evident, stimulating and encouraging the care and education processes.

RESUMEN Objetivo: sistematizar la experiencia de la asociación entre enseñanza y servicio en la creación y aplicación de un juego virtual sobre donación de órganos y tejidos en términos de una propuesta de educación permanente para la salud. Método: sistematización de la experiencia, dirigida por análisis documental y abarcando el proceso de elaboración y aplicación de una práctica educativa de gamificación por parte de estudiantes, profesores y profesionales de Enfermería, que desarrollaron la estrategia y la aplicaron en un hospital universitario del sur de Brasil en septiembre de 2020. Resultados: frente al contexto sanitario impuesto por la COVID-19, en términos de estrategia de educación permanente para la salud, el juego virtual compuesto por 20 preguntas sobre el proceso de donación de órganos y tejidos para trasplantes inspiró compromiso y motivación en los profesionales, quienes demostraron escasos conocimientos acerca de la temática y evaluaron la estrategia como positiva. Conclusión: se evidenció un potencial camino a ser replicado en diferentes contextos y temáticas, estimulando y alentando el proceso de la atención y educación en salud.

La experiencia adquirida a 34 años del primer trasplante de corazón en México / Experience acquired after 34 years of the first heart transplantation in Mexico

Resumen El 21 de julio de 1988, en México se realizó con éxito el primer trasplante de corazón; 34 años después, diversos centros hospitalarios del país efectúan este procedimiento. Aquí se presenta información y comentarios de los resultados obtenidos en este periodo en el Hospital General "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza", Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, donde se han llevado a cabo 234 trasplantes (uno de cada tres efectuados en el país), con una supervivencia a corto y mediano plazo equiparable a la reportada en el resto del mundo. Ese hospital es el único centro que realiza trasplante simultáneo de corazón-riñón y retrasplante cardiaco electivo, con resultados favorables.

Abstract On July 21, 1988, a successful heart transplant was carried out for the first time in Mexico; 34 years later, several hospitals in the country have performed this procedure. We present information and comments on the results obtained within this period at Mexican Social Security Institute La Raza National Medical Center "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza" General Hospital, where 234 transplants have been performed (one out of every three carried out throughout the country), with a short- and mid-term survival comparable to that reported in the rest of the world. This hospital is the only center that performs simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation and elective heart re-transplantation, with favorable results.

Eye banking and keratoplasty trend analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A South Indian observational study

Purpose: To analyze the impact on eye donation and corneal transplantation during the COVID?19 pandemic in a tertiary eye hospital in south India. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the donor and recipient records during the study period from January 2020 to May 2021 was conducted and tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2013. Demographic details of the donor, utility rate, cause of death, culture characteristics, storage methods, wet lab usage, and the surgical donor outcomes were evaluated. Additionally, the postoperative workup of the recipients, diagnosis, graft infection and rejection episodes, development of COVID?19 postoperatively, and outcome in terms of visual acuity at one, three, and six months were also noted. Results: A total of 466 eyes from 249 donors were received during the study period. The mean age of the donor population was 62.43 years (20.9). The corneal transplantation utility rate was 36.4% (n = 170). Fifty?one percent of the total transplant surgeries were for therapeutic purposes. This was followed by penetrating optical keratoplasty (34%), Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (9%), and patch grafts (3%). Seventeen (10%) graft rejection episodes were noted and nine (53%) had complete resolution after medical treatment. Conclusion: Proper preventive measures are key to carrying out safe and efficient eye banking activities even during a deadly pandemic, as COVID?19 transmission via transplantation is rare.

Perception of college-going girls towards corneal donation in North India: A latent class analysis study

Purpose: To assess the perception of college?going girls toward corneal donation in Northern India. Methods: An online survey with a pre?structured, pre?validated questionnaire was conducted on 1721 college?going girls in Northern India. The knowledge and attitude scores were regressed, and latent class analysis was carried out. Results: The average of scores for all participants was computed individually for the knowledge questions and the attitude questions, and based on this score, total participants were divided into two groups: Better corneal donation behaviors (BCDB) and poor corneal donation behaviors. The binomial logistic regression model of knowledge domain for predicting BCDB, age of the participant, their awareness about corneal donation, and willingness to discuss eye donation among family members were found significant. Similarly, for the attitude domain, awareness about corneal donation, knowledge about hours within which ideal eye donation needs to be undertaken, and knowledge about eye donation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) pandemic were found to be significant. Latent class analysis identified one subset of participants having poorer knowledge and attitude scores and that they were more from a rural background, were having more than first order as birth order, were belonging to SC/ST classes, had illiterate or secondary education of father and mother, and were living in rented houses. Conclusion: The findings of the study significantly contribute to devising a mechanism to improve knowledge and influencing the attitude about eye donation among the youth, especially young women, who can act as counselors and motivators for the masses as well as their own families, in the generations to come.

Study of Hindrances in Sustaining � Body Donation Programme in COVID-19 Era

Rationality : During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been widespread confusion regarding the acceptance of donated bodies, especially those of COVID-19 unknown status. The present study aims to (1) quantify the fall in the body donation in COVID pandemic times & (2) explore the perception of the recipients of body donation (Anatomy faculties) and the facilitators of body donation (NGO members), regarding the problems they faced. Materials and Methods : A cross sectional study using a pre designed study schedule was conducted over period of two months. 30 Anatomy faculties from 3 Medical Colleges in Kolkata and 20 members from 2 NGOs were interviewed. The actual numbers of the body donation received has been documented from record in Anatomy Departments and actual numbers of the body donation facilitated by NGOs has been obtained from record maintained in NGO office. The responses were analysed accordingly. Results : There was significant decline in body donation activity in all the Medical Colleges during COVID times. 80% Anatomy faculties and 60% NGO members recommended posthumous RTPCR tests for COVID-19 unknown bodies. 93.33% faculties and 60% NGO members also wanted the Government to publish directives for posthumous RTPCR tests in donor抯 body. Most faculties (83.33%) were unsure as to whether embalming fluid can neutralize COVID-19 virus or not. Conclusion, Limitation & Future Scope : This study explored the hesitations, its causes and remedial measures of hindrances in body donation program in COVID times. Being an ICMR STS project, authors needed to wrap up it by only two months time; but it can be used as the pilot to continue same in larger scale. Further researches are required to assess the lethality of embalming fluid on COVID-19 virus in this perspective