Fræðigrein

Læknablaðið 2005; 91: 417-22

Objective: To acquire information of organ donations and organ waiting lists in Iceland 1992-2002, the beginning of an organ procurement system.

Material and methods: Records of all patients treated at the ICU at LSH in Fossvogur 1992-2002 were studied. Information of organ donations at other units and number on organ waiting lists was attained. Results are shown as medians (25th, 75th percentile).

Results: 527 patients died at the ward 1992-2002 (48 (45,52) annually). Of them 68 (13%) were declared deceased because of brain death. Permission for organ procurement was requested from relatives in 50 cases (74% of brain deaths) and was obtained in 30 (60%). Four of these were not suitable as organ donors. Organ donation was denied in 40% of cases and refusal seemed to increase during the period. Potential organ donors that were not recognised as such were 18 (3% of all deaths). During the period six organ donations occurred at others units. The total number of organ donors was 32 (3 (1,5) annually) in Iceland 1992-2002. Number of organs donated was 109 (11 (4,15) annually). Each year there were 7 (5,9) individuals on waiting lists for organs and 3 (2,5) were transplanted.

Conclusions: 87% of organ donations in Iceland come from patients with cerebral haemorrhage, traumatic brain injury or ishaemic stroke. Organ donations in Iceland seem to fulfil the nations need of organs. It is a possible worry that refusal of organ donation by relatives seemed to increase during the period.