It’s one of the miracles of medicine that we are able to help patients in need of new organs, and it’s one of the miracles of humanity that about to be bereaved parents have the generosity to donate their child’s organs.
But the process only works if we can keep the patient stable and physiologically functional until the organ retrieval operation.
So how do we do this? How do we maintain blood pressure? Which inotrope should we use? What about other interventions? Thyroid axis? Steroids? Insulin? Temperature? Anything else? And is the practice in this field based on dogma, history, or (shock!) actual hard evidence?
And what interventions are acceptable for these patients?
It is our duty to do our best for these patients so that the parents’ wishes are fulfilled. Enjoy!
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