@article{ref1,
title="Glasgow coma scale 7 or less surveillance program for brain death identification in Argentina: Epidemiology and outcome",
journal="Transplantation proceedings",
year="2006",
author="Bustos, J. L. and Surt, K. and Soratti, C.",
volume="38",
number="10",
pages="3697-3699",
abstract="BACKGROUND: In Argentina, the rate of cadaveric organ donation per million inhabitants has recently increased to 10.5 (it was previously &lt;7). PURPOSE: To overcome this challenge, the National Institute for Organ Donation and Transplantation (INCUCAI) created a proactive donor detection plan performed by intensive care unit (ICU) physicians (hospital transplantation coordinators) from 90 selected hospitals across the country. METHODS: A prospective, observational study of patients in severe coma status was conducted from September 2003 to December 2005. We enrolled hospitalized patients who displayed a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 7 or less and who were admitted to ICUs. Data included demographics, etiology of coma, cardiac arrest, brain death, discharge or derivation, and positive/negative donation. RESULTS: Among 9841 enrolled patients, we excluded 498 who were discharged to another hospital or had unknown outcomes, leaving 9343 for analysis including 64% males and 36% females of overall mean age 50 +/- 19 years (adults) and 5 +/- 4 years (children). Herein, we have highlighted the high risk of death during the first 2 days in the ICU of patients with GCS 7 or less. Gunshot to the head-injured patients and those with hemorrhagic strokes were less likely to survive. In this study, cardiac arrest events and organ donors (OD) GCS 7 or less ratios emerged as quality control markers of ICU care, unraveling problems of potential donor maintenance or inadequate policies. CONCLUSIONS: The GCS 7 or less surveillance program seemed to be a valuable tool for identifying organ donors and potentially treatable events, such as the high rate of cardiac arrest observed in this study.   <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0041-1345",
doi="10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.10.046",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2006.10.046"
}