Donación de órganos cadavéricos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos: conceptos de muerte encefálica / Cadaveric organ in the intensive care unit: concepts in brain death

RESUMO

Cadaveric organ donation in our country is an activity undergoing development, being donor rates still very low as regerts the number of patients with terminal organic insufficiencies, thus generating an increasing growth of waiting list. Identification of potential cadaveric donor in the emergency units will depent on the knowlelge of the physician in charge as regards this problematic situation, constituting one of the most important aspects of cadaveric organ donation, mainly those connected to encephalic death and its secondary phisiopathologic alterations. Taking as basis countries with efficient organ procurement programmes, the role of the Hospital Traspantation Coordinating Physician with seat in his Assistential Unit is highlighted in this report.