• H P Magrath and L J Boulstridge.
• Accident and Emergency Department, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
• J Accid Emerg Med. 1999 Mar 1; 16 (2): 117-9.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the accident and emergency department (A&E) is a potential source of tissues for donation, from non-heart beating donors (NHBDs).MethodsA telephone survey of 30 A&E departments was conducted to determine current tissue harvesting practices from NHBDs. The potential number of tissue donors in our own medium sized district general hospital A&E department was estimated. Senior nursing staff were asked to complete a questionnaire to establish their knowledge, attitudes, and experience of tissue harvesting from NHBDs.ResultsOnly seven of the 30 A&E departments surveyed (23%) had an active involvement in requesting tissue donation after a sudden death. Several others had limited experience. The level of involvement was unrelated to department size. In our own A&E department, there were 110 deaths in 1995. Tissue donation had occurred on just three occasions. However, departmental staff attitudes towards reducing this shortfall were positive.ConclusionsThe A&E department is a resource of tissues for donation, which is currently under used.

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