Upstate New York Transplant Services

UNYTS

Overview:

• Our organization• Brain vs. Cardiac death• When to call• Organ donation process• Family support• Myths about donation• Community Blood

Services

Need for Donation:

• Over 100,000 patients are waiting for an organ transplant

• 18 people die every day waiting• Only 1% of the population can ever donate

Who We Are:

• Non-profit Organization• Federally and State regulated• Serve the 8 counties of Western New York• Provide 24/7 donation support to 28 hospitals• Smallest OPO• First OPO to include blood, eye, tissue, and

organ donation

Our Mission Statement

We are committed to enhancing and saving lives through organ, tissue, eye, and blood donation while maintaining the respect for those who give the gift of life.

Uniform Anatomical Gift Act; 1998:

• All hospitals must have a relationship with an Organ Procurement Organization (OPO)

• Allows families to make informed decision at the end of life

Uniform Determination of Death Act:

• Distinguished between two types of death

• Expanded definition of death

Two Types of Death:

• Cardiac Death– Heart stops beating– 99% of people will die this

way

• Brain Death– Brain suffers irreversible

injury– Brainstem function stops– Body continues to be

perfused on ventilator– Heart continues to beat– 1% of population

Brain Death:

Permanent and irreversible

NOT a “coma” Brain is deprived of

oxygen (anoxia) Can be caused by:

Head trauma Hemorrhage Drowning, Poisoning,

Overdose

Which organs can be donated:

• Heart• Lungs (can be split)• Liver (can be split)• Pancreas• Intestine• Kidneys (typically split)

One donor can save up to 8 lives!!

Did you know:

Tissue that can be donated:

• Heart valves• Corneas/Eyes• Bone• Skin• Tendons/Ligaments• Veins• Nerves

One tissue donor can help 50-100 people!

Did you know:

Other Donation Opportunities:

Research 1600 samples annually Roswell, UB School of Medicine, Harvard Brain

Bank, National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI)

Placenta recovery Isolated liver cell infusion

When to Make the Initial Referral to UNYTS…

Do you know:

Call UNYTS:

• If patient is on a ventilator, call when clinical triggers are met.– Evaluate for organ options

• If patient is NOT on a ventilator, call within one hour after the time of death.– Evaluate for tissue options

Clinical Triggers:

• PATIENT MUST BE ON A VENTILATOR!

• Start or plan on starting brain death testing• Prior to limiting treatment/comfort care• Glascow Coma Scale of less than 5

– Best eye, motor, and verbal response

Initial Referral - Chart Review:

• Patient medical history.• Blood pressure support

(pressors)?• Neurologic responses?• Sedation?• Recent lab work?• Recent vital signs?• Recent urine output?

Approaching Family:

• Hospital Policy• This is our expertise• Family support helps us

know when time is right• Child deaths are

especially difficult• Best results when OPO

approaches family

Family Support Services

Family Support:

• Generally come in after diagnosis is given

• Family may not be accepting

• Family support are our eyes/ears prior to approach

Donation Offers a U-turn:

• Hope for recovery is gone

• Family can have hope through donation

• Given the opportunity to save a life, most people would do it

Myths About Donation:

“My religion doesn’t allow it.”

“I’m too old to donate. No one will want my organs.”

“I can’t have an open-casket funeral if I donate.”

“Staff won’t work as hard to save me.”

Donation begins with you:

• Timely referrals help save lives

• Calling in death offers family opportunity

Food for thought…

What if everyday was a race against time?

Every breath is measured, appreciated and potentially the last.

For people awaiting an organ transplant this situation is a daily reality.

On the Web:

www.unyts.org Our website Blood drives, volunteer, & how to donate

www.unos.org United Network Of Organ Sharing National Waiting List

www.organdonor.gov Government website Helpful information on religious views, & how to be a donor

COMMUNITY BLOOD BANKOur newest addition…

Why blood?

• Blood is a hospital’s 2nd highest cost, after staff.

• 2005: area hospitals approached UNYTS.

What is a Community Blood Bank:

• Meets the needs of a certain region/area

• Neighbors helping neighbors

• 50% of the U.S. blood supply is made this way

• Can donate blood or platelets

Cost Relationship:

• Donation rates rise, as people want to help those around them

• As more blood is donated, cost goes down

• Processed in Western New York

Why donate to UNYTS:

• ALL donated blood stays within WNY

• Saves local hospitals money

• Processing locally keeps our cost down

• Over 650 Community Partners

Quick Facts:

• No substitute for human blood• 1 in 3 people need blood in their lifetime• 1 in 33 people are regular blood donors• Need 1,000 donors a week to keep up with

demands• One blood donor can help up to 3 people