Little information is available in the medical and nursing literature concerning organ recovery from brain-dead, pregnant individuals. Many healthcare professionals might rule out such patients as potential donors, especially if childbirth is a possibility. This article presents an actual case study in which the birth of a healthy infant and recovery of organs from the mother were successful. It also reviews the available literature and discusses factors related to organ placement.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
NettinaMBarterMSantosEAsciotiK. Rings of life. Nursing 93.1993;3:45–48.
2.
BernsteinIMWatsonMSimmonsGM. Maternal brain death and prolonged fetal survival. Obstet Gynecol.1989;74:434–437.
3.
NuutinenLSAlahuhtaSMHeikkinenJE. Nutrition during ten-week life support with successful fetal outcome in a case with fetal maternal damage. J Parental Nutr.1989;13:432–435.
4.
DillionWPLeeRVTronoloneMJBuckwaldS. Life support of maternal brain death during pregnancy. JAMA.1982;248:1089–1091.
5.
FieldDRGatesEACreasyRKJansenAR. Maternal brain death during pregnancy. JAMA.1988;260:816–822.
6.
MiniellyRYuzpeAADrakeCG. Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to ruptured cerebral aneurysm in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol.1979;1:64–70.
7.
GoldsmithJMontefuscoCM. Nursing care of the potential organ donor. Crit Care Nurse.1985;5:22–29.
8.
NovitzkyDCooperDKC. Results of hormonal therapy in human brain-dead potential organ donors. Transplant Proc.1988;20:59.
9.
SoiferG. The multiple organ donor: Identification and management. Ann Intern Med.1989;110:814–823.
10.
MishellDBrennerP. Management of Common Problems in Obstetrics and Gynecology.Boston, Mass: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1994.
11.
GrantJP. Handbook of Total Parental Nutrition.Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1992.