In this issue of CCR

Abstract

This issue of Critical Care and Resuscitation focuses on several key aspects of modern intensive care unit (ICU) practice in Australia and New Zealand. Organ donation is particularly prominent, with two original articles and a dedicatededitorial. 1, 2, 3 The first article provides strong evidence that, in more difficult organ donation family conversations (ie, when there is no evidence of organ donation registry presence and organ donation is not raised by the family), the likelihood of successful donation is significantly increased by such conversation being led by an organ donation specialist. As supported by the editorial, it is increasingly clear that in this field, like all other aspects of critical care practice, training and specialisation make a difference. The second article demonstrates that organ donation can be successfully achieved under time pressure, even for highly vasopressor-dependent donors, and with good long term outcome when applying an expedited organ donation process. The implications are clear.