21 May 2009
Reversal to whole brain death criteria after 15 years long experience with brain stem death criteria in Poland
R Bohatyrewicz, M Zukowski, A Bohatyrewicz, E Marzec-Lewenstein, J Biernawska, J Sołek-Pastuszka, T Sulikowski, J SienkoAnn Transplant 2009; 14(1): 78-78 :: ID: 880488
Abstract
Polish brain death criteria, similar to the original Harvard ones, were published in 1984. In 1990, following British regulations, they were converted to the brainstem death criteria and revised twice, in 1994 and 1996. Brain death diagnosis basing solely on the clinical brain stem death criteria, without recommendation for any confirmatory tests, is currently used only in United Kingdom. Unfortunately, these criteria may proof inadequate in case of a complicated clinical situation such as intoxication, metabolic alterations, major facial injury, infratentorial lesions or cervical spinal cord injury etc. New Polish Transplant Act, passed by Polish Parliament in 2005, recommended return to the whole brain death concept for a diagnosis of brain death. In 2007, Polish Ministry of Health's Commission outlined new Polish brain death criteria. Optional use of instrumental confirmatory tests was implemented in new Polish national code of practice for the brain death diagnosis among adults. In children, up to two years old, instrumental tests are obligatory. Poland is the first country, which reversed national guidelines from brain stem death to the whole brain death concept. Initially, there were some problems concerning understanding of new, a little more complicated classification of primary and secondary brain injuries, infratentorial and supratentorial processes, as well as slightly modified apnoe test. Commentary, answering the most frequent questions was published in Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy - Official Journal of Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy. This publication terminated majority of problems appearing after implementation of new instructions for brain death diagnosis.
Keywords: Organ Procurement
In Press
08 Mar 2024 : Original article
Association of Coronary Calcium Score on Cardiac PET During Pre-Kidney Transplant Assessment with Persisten...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.943532
14 Mar 2024 : Original article
Impact of Blood Products Transfusion on Patients in the Immediate Post-Lung Transplant Period: A Cohort StudyAnn Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.943652
14 Mar 2024 : Case report
Treatment of Cavernous Transformation of Portal Vein Caused by Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis Using Ex Vivo ...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.942358
15 Mar 2024 : Review article
Approaches and Challenges in the Current Management of Cytomegalovirus in Transplant Recipients: Highlighti...Ann Transplant In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AOT.941185
Most Viewed Current Articles
05 Apr 2022 : Original article
Impact of Statins on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Living-Donor Liver TransplantationDOI :10.12659/AOT.935604
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935604
12 Jan 2022 : Original article
Risk Factors for Developing BK Virus-Associated Nephropathy: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study of ...DOI :10.12659/AOT.934738
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e934738
22 Nov 2022 : Original article
Long-Term Effects of Everolimus-Facilitated Tacrolimus Reduction in Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipient...DOI :10.12659/AOT.937988
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e937988
15 Mar 2022 : Case report
Combined Liver, Pancreas-Duodenum, and Kidney Transplantation for Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis, Urem...DOI :10.12659/AOT.935860
Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935860