Cardiac life mechanical support in extrahospitalary donors after cardiac dead

Abstract

Introduction: The Madrid Emergency Medical Service (SUMMA112) in collaboration with Madrid's hospitals are employed at a program of donation of patients’ organs that have suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and no response of advanced life support (ALS). The study's aim is to assessment the use of mechanical cardio pump in this program. Material and method: descriptive retrospective study based on the summary of information of the clinical records of all the cases in which the donor's protocol has been activated in asystole (Code O) during the year 2009.It use two mechanical cardio pump: Autopulse – Zoll© and Lucas – Physio Control©. Results: A total of 52 cases. 84.6% men and 15.4% women. The average's age was 41 years (20–61). The average's time of arrival to place of the intervention was 11 min and 46 s. The average's time of arrival to the hospital from the entry of the alarm call was 79 min. There were obtained 100 organs (17 liver, 1 lungs, 56 kidneys, 10 bones and 16 eye tissue), an average near 2 by patient. In 17.3% they were not valid donors. The reasons of not donation were a failure extracorporeal pump in 1 cases, family denial in 5 cases, judge negative in 2 cases and biological reason in 2 of the cases (tumoral active pathology, positive serology, etc.). Autopulse© was used in 20 cases and Lucas© in 30 cases. In two cases do not use anyone. Conclusions: The use of these devices joins perfectly the non-heart beating donors procedure. The quality improves of the RCP and facilitates the work of the emergency team. It is necessary more studies to verify if his use increases the number of donated organs.