The first time i even saw an organ salvage...
Today was an interesting day...we had a patient who was pronouned braindead and planned for organ salvage after discussing the issue with his family. The family agreed and it was not long before the 'teams' arrived with great speed to salvage the organs. IJN's team was probably the most impressive...the rest of the other teams were available in the hospital itself...IJN brought along every member of their team, from the attendent up to the cardiothoracic surgeon...they even brought their own anaesthetist, scrub nurses and sister! I suddenly felt that the OT was dominated by IJN people...
I arrived a little late...and had already seen a midline incision made from the thorax up to the lower abdomen...it really remimded me of how autopsies were done, except that this one, the heart is still beating! I can visualize it so clearly from about 3 metres away from the OT table. The IJN team was very happy with what they saw of the heart, and could certainly make good use for someone who really needs a heart transplant. Multiple organs were salvaged, liver (not to mention, the child was already on the next table, being prepared to be the reciepient of the transplanted organ.), kidneys and lungs. I wasn't too sure about the pancreas, skin, cornea (which are also salvagable) as they did not mention about it.
IN the end, it was something interesting to watch...even the pathologist was there...i think more for a medico-legal reason...not so much as in participating in the surgery. It makes me begin to wonder, once you're brain dead and your family/yourself agress for organ donation...that's what happens to u...
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