Lions Gate Hospital handles first case of Donation after Cardiac Death

Handling three trauma cases in a 24-hour period is not unusual for staff at Lions Gate Hospital, but what happened last week marked a milestone in the hospital’s history.

LGH handled its first Donation After Cardiac Death, or DCD. This involves a donation from a patient with a severe brain injury or other terminal condition who does not meet the criteria for brain death but who has no chance of recovery and is removed from life-sustaining therapy with the consent of his or her family. Prior to this kind of transplant, only individuals who met the neurological criteria for death (brain death) could be considered as organ donors. Since 2008 in B.C., there have only been 63 cases of DCD.

Last week, a patient with a severe head injury was admitted to ICU and was on life support. After several days, it was clear he was not going to recover from his injuries. The grieving family then approached bedside nurse Jacqui Bird and asked if there was any way their loved one’s organs could be donated.

“What an amazing thing this family chose to do,” says Jacqui, who was with the patient and family for three 12-hour shifts. “They literally gave the greatest gift of all – the gift of life.”

Team  pulled together to honour family’s wishes

With the family’s wishes made clear, staff across multiple departments and units – ICU, Intensivist, bedside nurses, social work, LGH’s spiritual care, OR nurses,  pharmacy, managers as well as BC Transplant  personnel –  kicked into high gear and followed the DCD protocol with aplomb. With this kind of donation, time is truly of the essence and a coordinated effort is crucial for transplant success.

Together, the LGH staff and physicians involved in the DCD and BC Transplant team fulfilled the family’s wishes. Their loved one’s liver and two kidneys were successfully donated to three people.

“I’m very proud of the ICU team and how they pulled themselves together to make this happen,” said Karen Mayo, ICU PCC/Nurse Educator “Everybody who was on shift was absolutely stellar. I can’t say enough about them. Each of them made a difference to the family and their wishes and supported them in such a caring and compassionate way.”

LGH chaplain a stand-out

Karen had particularly high praise for LGH chaplain/spiritual coordinator Andres Rebane for his unwavering kindness, grace and emotional support not just for the family but staff as well.

“Andres was simply amazing,” says Karen. “He was with the family every step of the way and really kept them together and ensured all their religious needs were looked after.”

Organ donation makes a positive difference

Mike Nader, VCH-Coastal’s Chief Operating Officer, also had kudos for the hardworking LGH team involved in the DCD.

“What a tremendous accomplishment,” said Mike. “As an organization, such a noble gesture on the part of the family and patient is something our care team did a great job supporting.”

Ed Ferre, Interim Provincial Operations Director at BC Transplant, also had praise for the LGH team.

“Supporting organ donation after cardiac death at all hospitals in B.C. is best practice, and will ensure every family facing a tragic loss has the option of organ donation, regardless of where in B.C. they live. The physicians and staff at Lions Gate Hospital have worked hard to provide this option for families, and it’s making a positive difference.”

Currently in B.C., there are about 500 patients waiting for transplant.