Care of the potential pediatric organ donor

Nearly as many people die waiting for a transplantation each year as donors give organs. This makes identifying and caring for potential donors a prom inent task in every intensive care unit. Crucial to the donation process is understanding, recognizing, determining brain death, as well as the abilit y to communicate the full meaning of brain death to the family. By their fa mily-oriented organization and attitude, PICUs should have an extra chance to obtain family consent for donation. Technically, the medical care for th e donor follows the same lints as the care for any other unstable ICU patie nt, as many specific treatment options remain a matter for debate, and cont rolled studies in the future.