The Impact of Therapeutic Hypothermia Used to Treat Anoxic Brain Injury After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Organ Donation Outcomes.

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is clinically used to improve neurologic outcomes in patients with anoxic brain injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). For patients that regress and become organ donors after neurologic determination of death (DNDDs), the impact of TH received before determination of death on organ donation outcomes remains unknown. A prospective observational study of all adult DNDDs that received CPR and had anoxia as a cause of death from March 2013 to December 2014 was conducted across 20 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States. Main outcome measures included organs transplanted per donor (OTPD), specific organ transplantation rates, and recipient graft outcomes. One thousand ninety eight DNDDs met inclusion criteria, with 46% having received TH before determination of death. DNDDs with hypothermia before death had a similar number of OTPD (2.74 vs. 2.69, p = 0.61) and similar transplantation rates of individual organs. With regards to recipients, there was significantly less delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney grafts from donors who received TH before death (24% vs. 30%, p = 0.02). After adjusting for donor, recipient, and graft related factors, the protective effect of TH on DGF persisted (OR 0.75, 95%CI [0.56-0.995], p = 0.046). TH before death in the donor is independently associated with a 25% decrease in DGF among kidney recipients. This should be considered a protective donor selection factor in guiding the decision to accept or reject an organ for transplantation.

Therapeutic Hypothermia in Deceased Organ Donors and Kidney-Graft Function.

BACKGROUND: Delayed graft function, which is reported in up to 50% of kidney-transplant recipients, is associated with increased costs and diminished long-term graft function. The effect that targeted mild hypothermia in organ donors before organ recovery has on the rate of delayed graft function is unclear. METHODS: We enrolled organ donors (after declaration of death according to neurologic criteria) from two large donation service areas and randomly assigned them to one of two targeted temperature ranges: 34 to 35°C (hypothermia) or 36.5 to 37.5°C (normothermia). Temperature protocols, which were initiated after authorization was obtained for the organ to be donated and for the donor's participation in the study, ended when organ donors left the intensive care unit for organ recovery in the operating room. The primary outcome was delayed graft function in the kidney recipients, which was defined as the requirement for dialysis during the first week after transplantation. Secondary outcomes were the rates of individual organs transplanted in each treatment group and the total number of organs transplanted from each donor. RESULTS: The study was terminated early, on the recommendation of an independent data and safety monitoring board, after the interim analysis showed efficacy of hypothermia. At trial termination, 370 organ donors had been enrolled (180 in the hypothermia group and 190 in the normothermia group). A total of 572 patients received a kidney transplant (285 kidneys from donors in the hypothermia group and 287 kidneys from donors in the normothermia group). Delayed graft function developed in 79 recipients of kidneys from donors in the hypothermia group (28%) and in 112 recipients of kidneys from donors in the normothermia group (39%) (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.92; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Mild hypothermia, as compared with normothermia, in organ donors after declaration of death according to neurologic criteria significantly reduced the rate of delayed graft function among recipients. (Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01680744.).

The impact of blood transfusions in deceased organ donors on the outcomes of 1,884 renal grafts from United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5.

BACKGROUND: Historically, strategies to reduce acute rejection and improve graft survival in kidney transplant recipients included blood transfusions (BTs) before transplantation. While advents in recipient immunosuppression strategies have replaced this practice, the impact of BTs in the organ donor on recipient graft outcomes has not been evaluated. We hypothesize that BTs in organ donors after neurologic determination of death (DNDDs) translate into improved recipient renal graft outcomes, as measured by a decrease in delayed graft function (DGF). METHODS: Donor demographics, critical care end points, the use of BTs, and graft outcome data were prospectively collected on DNDDs from March 2012 to October 2013 in the United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5 Donor Management Database. Propensity analysis determined each DNDD's probability of receiving packed red blood cells based on demographic and critical care data as well as provider bias. The primary outcome measure was the rate of DGF (dialysis in the first week after transplantation) in different donor BT groups as follows: no BT, any BT, 1 to 5, 6 to 10, or greater than 10 packed red blood cell units. Regression models determined the relationship between donor BTs and recipient DGF after accounting for known predictors of DGF as well as the propensity to receive a BT. RESULTS: Data were complete for 1,884 renal grafts from 1,006 DNDDs; 52% received any BT, 32% received 1 to 5 U, 11% received 6 to 10, and 9% received greater than 10 U of blood. Grafts from transfused donors had a lower rate of DGF compared with those of the nontransfused donors (26% vs. 34%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for known confounders, grafts from donors with any BT had a lower odds of DGF (odds ratio, 0.76; p = 0.030), and this effect was greatest in those with greater than 10 U transfused. CONCLUSION: Any BT in a DNDD was associated with a 23% decrease in the odds of recipients developing DGF, and this effect was more pronounced as the number of BTs increased. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level III; epidemiologic/prognostic study, level II.

The impact of meeting donor management goals on the number of organs transplanted per expanded criteria donor: a prospective study from the UNOS Region 5 Donor Management Goals Workgroup.

IMPORTANCE: The shortage of organs available for transplant has led to the use of expanded criteria donors (ECDs) to extend the donor pool. These donors are older and have more comorbidities and efforts to optimize the quality of their organs are needed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of meeting a standardized set of critical care end points, or donor management goals (DMGs), on the number of organs transplanted per donor in ECDs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective interventional study from February 2010 to July 2013 of all ECDs managed by the 8 organ procurement organizations in the southwestern United States (United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5). INTERVENTIONS: Implementation of 9 DMGs as a checklist to guide the management of every ECD. The DMGs represented normal cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and endocrine end points. Meeting the DMG bundle was defined a priori as achieving any 7 of the 9 end points and was recorded at the time of referral to the organ procurement organization, at the time of authorization for donation, 12 to 18 hours later, and prior to organ recovery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was 3 or more organs transplanted per donor and binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors with P < .05. RESULTS: There were 671 ECDs with a mean (SD) number of 2.1 (1.3) organs transplanted per donor. Ten percent of the ECDs had met the DMG bundle at referral, 15% at the time of authorization, 33% at 12 to 18 hours, and 45% prior to recovery. Forty-three percent had 3 or more organs transplanted per donor. Independent predictors of 3 or more organs transplanted per donor were older age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95 per year [95% CI, 0.93-0.97]), increased creatinine level (OR = 0.73 per mg/dL [95% CI, 0.63-0.85]), DMGs met prior to organ recovery (OR = 1.90 [95% CI, 1.35-2.68]), and a change in the number of DMGs achieved from referral to organ recovery (OR = 1.11 per additional DMG [95% CI, 1.00-1.23]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Meeting DMGs prior to organ recovery with ECDs is associated with achieving 3 or more organs transplanted per donor. An increase in the number of critical care end points achieved throughout the care of a potential donor by both donor hospital and organ procurement organization is also associated with an increase in organ yield.

Determining optimal threshold for glucose control in organ donors after neurologic determination of death: a United Network for Organ Sharing Region 5 Donor Management Goals Workgroup prospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate level of glucose control in organ donors after neurologic determination of death (DNDD) remains uncertain. We hypothesized that a glucose target of 180 mg/dL would be appropriate for optimizing organ transplantation rates and outcomes. METHODS: Demographic, critical care, organ transplantation, and graft outcome data were prospectively collected on all DNDDs in United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Region 5 from 2010 to 2012. Glucose levels were assessed at four time points in the organ donation process. The primary outcome measure was having four or more organs transplanted per donor (OTPD). Univariate analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between glucose levels and OTPD, organ transplantation rates, and graft function. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of four or more OTPDs. Glucose levels were analyzed at the following cutoff points: 150 or less, 180, and 200 mg/dL. Results with a p < 0.05 are listed. RESULTS: A total of 1,611 DNDDs had a mean (SD) age of 38 (17) years and 3.4 (1.7) OTPDs. Forty-one percent had four or more OTPDs. Glucose levels of 150 mg/dL or less were not associated with differences in organ use. Levels of 180 mg/dL or less were associated with more OTPDs (3.5 vs. 3.2), a higher rate of four or more OTPDs (42% vs. 34%), and more heart (34% vs. 28%), pancreas (18% vs. 11%), and kidney (85% vs. 81%) use. Levels of 200 mg/dL or less revealed similar results. However, only a level of 180 mg/dL or less was an independent predictor of four or more OTPDs (odds ratio, 1.4). All three levels were associated with higher kidney graft survival after a mean (SD) of 10 (6.0) months of follow-up (97% vs. 95%). CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemia is common in DNDDs and is associated with lower organ transplantation rates and worse graft outcomes. Targeting a glucose level of 180 mg/dL or less seems to preserve outcomes and is consistent with general critical care guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level II.

Primary care clinician adherence to guidelines for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain: results from the study of the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to pain.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed primary care clinician-provided guideline-concordant care as documented in patients' medical records, predictors of documented guideline-concordant care, and its association with pain-related functioning. Patients were participants in a randomized trial of collaborative care for chronic musculoskeletal pain. The intervention featured patient and primary care clinician education, symptom monitoring and feedback to clinicians by the intervention team. METHODS: To assess concordance with the evidence-based treatment guidelines upon which our intervention was based, we developed an 8-item chart review tool, the Pain Process Checklist (PPC). We then reviewed electronic medical records for 365 veteran patients treated by 42 primary care clinicians over 12 months. Intervention status, demographic, and clinical variables were tested as predictors of PPC scores using generalized estimating equations (GEE). GEE was also used to test whether PPC scores predicted treatment response (≥30% decrease in Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score). RESULTS: Rates of documented guideline-concordant care varied widely among PPC items, from 94% of patients having pain addressed to 17% of patients on opioids having side effects addressed. Intervention status was unrelated to item scores, and PPC-7 totals did not differ significantly between intervention and treatment-as-usual patients (61.2%, standard error [SE] = 3.3% vs 55.2%, SE = 2.6%, P = 0.15). In a multivariate model, higher PPC-7 scores were associated with receiving a prescription for opioids (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, P = 0.007) and lower PPC-7 scores with patient age (10-year difference OR = 0.97, P = 0.004). Finally, intervention patients who received quantitative pain and depression assessments were less likely to respond to treatment (assessed vs not: 18% vs 33%, P = 0.008, and 13% vs 28%, P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As measured by medical record review, additional training and clinician feedback did not increase provision of documented guideline-concordant pain care, and adherence to guidelines by primary care clinicians did not improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Suicide risk assessment and content of VA health care contacts before suicide completion by veterans in Oregon.

OBJECTIVE: This study described health care contacts at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Oregon in the year before death of veterans who completed suicide. METHODS: Oregon Violent Death Reporting System (OVDRS) data and VA administrative data were linked to identify the 112 veterans who completed suicide in Oregon between 2000 and 2005 and who had contact with a single VA medical center in the year before death. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on clinician assessment of suicide risk and reasons for the last contact. RESULTS: In the year before death, 54 veterans (48%) had one or more mental health contacts and 71 (63%) had one or more primary care contacts. The mean age was 57; common diagnoses included mood disorders (38%) and cardiovascular disease (38%). The median number of days between the last contact and date of death was 42 (range=0-358). Thirty-six last contacts (32%) were patient initiated for new or exacerbated medical concerns, and 76 (68%) were follow-ups for ongoing problems. Clinicians noted that 41 patients (37%) were experiencing emotional distress at the last contact. Thirteen of the 18 patients (72%) who were assessed for suicidal ideation at their last contact denied such thoughts. CONCLUSIONS: During their last contact, most veterans were seen for routine medical care and few endorsed thoughts of suicide. Results underscore challenges that clinicians face in identifying and caring for veterans at risk of suicide in health care settings. Additional research is indicated to identify better ways to facilitate communication of suicidal thoughts when they are present.

Measuring depression and pain with home health monitors.

The objective of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of using home health monitors to administer standardized measures for depression and pain in a Veterans Affairs (VA) patient population. Five patients were recruited from a larger study of collaborative depression care, and were asked to use Viterion 100 Telehealth monitors to transmit depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and pain severity (SF36-V bodily pain items) scores on a weekly basis for 24 weeks. Information was received and reviewed by a nurse care manager, who recommended treatment changes as appropriate. The care manager occasionally followed up reports of changes in symptom severity with phone calls; in one case, she called to inquire why a patient was not submitting data. Overall, four patients were able to use the monitors successfully and frequently. Patient satisfaction was high: 5 of 5 reported that they would use monitors again, and 3 of 5 preferred monitors to phone or mail for completing questionnaires. Patients expressed no concerns about privacy. The data allowed tracking of the longitudinal interrelationship between depression and pain severity. However, the monitors were limited in their ability to display questionnaire items, and the system could neither directly compute measure scores nor transfer data to patient medical records. These results suggest that with modifications, home health monitoring shows promise for monitoring symptom severity for a variety of medical and mental health conditions, for either clinical or research purposes.