Prog Transplant
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CONTEXT-Studies indicate that donor families and hospital staff, particularly operating room staff, fear that organ donors will not be treated with dignity, honor, and respect. OBJECTIVE-The ritual of a unique, family-designed statement of honor followed by a 15-second moment of silence in the operating room before organ recovery was implemented to honor organ donors and their families. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of the ritual and to investigate its impact on donation rates in the California Transplant Donor Network's service area. ⋯ Families reported that the ritual honored their loved ones. Although the collaborative conversion rates were similar in hospitals before implementation (2010), implementation of the ritual affected donation rates in 2011. CONCLUSIONS-The 15-second moment of silence honors deceased donors and their families and improves donation rates in donor hospitals.
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Mechanical circulatory support devices such as ventricular assist devices have become the approved and accepted treatment option to improve survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure refractory to medical therapy. Patients as a result are living longer and presenting to emergency medical services, primary care facilities, emergency departments, and critical care units more frequently. ⋯ We present a comprehensive overview of the types of mechanical assist devices, their complications, and an algorithmic approach to the emergency management in the patients with mechanical circulatory support. A systematic method is crucial in prompt and early recognition of emergencies to ensure appropriate management of these patients.