Death by neurologic criteria in a neonate: Implications for organ donation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bokisa, A.E.^a | Bonachea, E.M.^a | Jadcherla, S.R.^{a; b; c; *}

Affiliations: [a] Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA | [b] The Neonatal and Infant Feeding Disorders Program, Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Columbus, OH, USA | [c] Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Sudarshan R. Jadcherla, MD, Division of Neonatology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, 43205 OH, USA. Tel.: +1 614 355 6669; Fax: +1 614 355 5899; [email protected]

Abstract: We illustrate a unique case of neonatal organ donation in a full-term newborn with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and multi-organ dysfunction that underwent therapeutic hypothermia. Prolonged hypothermia permitted adequate time for recovery of certain end-organs before such time that death by neurologic criteria was declared. Parental values aligned with the opportunity for organ donation.

Keywords: Neonate, brain death, organ donation, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-15814074

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 263-267, 2015