Articles: emergency-services.
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The majority of attempts to resuscitate victims of prehospital cardiopulmonary arrest are unsuccessful, and patients are frequently transported to the emergency department for further resuscitation efforts. We evaluated the efficacy and costs of continued hospital resuscitation for patients in whom resuscitation efforts outside the hospital have failed. ⋯ In general, continued resuscitation efforts in the emergency department for victims of cardiopulmonary arrest in whom prehospital resuscitation has failed are not worthwhile, and they consume precious institutional and economic resources without gain.
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Despite mandatory request legislation, the lack of available donor organs and tissues continues to limit transplant efforts. The potential contribution from emergency department (ED) patients remains undefined. We reviewed the charts of patients dying in our ED for organs and tissues potentially suitable for transplantation, age, cause of death, and physician documentation of donation inquiry. ⋯ Four charts (2.6%) mentioned donation in the narrative section, two (1.3%) documented discussion with family, and one patient was referred to our Organ Procurement Organization, with recovery of one kidney and heart valves. We conclude that physicians rarely document consideration of donation for patients dying in the ED; the number of potential donors far exceeds the number referred or recovered. Future efforts should focus on methods to increase recognition and referral of organ and tissue donors from the ED.