Analysis of brain death declaration process and its impact on organ donation in a reference trauma center

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the processes of brain death diagnosis and organ donation in a reference trauma center. METHODS: Observational and cross-sectional study with patients notified with brain death at a reference trauma center. Data were obtained through the collection of medical records and brain death declaration forms. RESULTS: One hundred fity-nine patients were notified with brain death, mostly male (82.6%), young adults (97.61%) and victims of brain traumatic injury (93.7%). Median of the total time interval for the diagnosis of brain death was 20.75 hours, with no difference between organ donors and non-donors. We had excessive time intervals on brain death declaration, but without statistical effect on organ donation numbers. CONCLUSION: We had low efficacy in brain death declaration based on longer time intervals, with no impact on organ donation.