TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of thyroid hormone administration in potential organ Donors
AU - Salim, Ali
AU - Vassiliu, Pantelis
AU - Velmahos, George C.
AU - Sava, Jack
AU - Murray, James A.
AU - Belzberg, Howard
AU - Asensio, Juan A.
AU - Demetriades, Demetrios
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Hypothesis: Levothyroxine sodium therapy should be used in brain-dead potential organ donors to reverse hemodynamic instability and to prevent cardiovascular collapse, leading to more available organs for transplantation. Design: Prospective, before and after clinical study. Setting: A surgical intensive care unit of an academic county hospital. Patients: During a 12-month period (September 1, 1999, through August 31, 2000), we evaluated 19 hemodynamically unstable patients with traumatic and nontraumatic intracranial lesions, who were candidates for organ donation following brain death declaration. Interventions: All patients were resuscitated aggressively for organ preservation by fluids, inotropic agents, and vasopressors. If, despite all measures, the patients remained hemodynamically unstable, a bolus of 1 ampule of 50% dextrose, 2 g of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 20 U of insulin, and 20 μg of levothyroxine sodium was administered, followed by a continuous levothyroxine sodium infusion at 10 μg/h. Results: There was a significant reduction in the total vasopressor requirement after levothyroxine therapy (mean±SD, 11.1±0.9 μg/kg per minute vs 6.4±1.4 μg/kg per minute, P=.02). Ten patients (53%) had complete discontinuation of vasopressors. There were no failures to reach organ donation due to cardiopulmonary arrest. Conclusions: Levothyroxine therapy plays an important role in the management of hemodynamically unstable potential organ donors by decreasing vasopressor requirements and preventing cardiovascular collapse. This may result in an increase in the quantity and quality of organs available for transplantation.
AB - Hypothesis: Levothyroxine sodium therapy should be used in brain-dead potential organ donors to reverse hemodynamic instability and to prevent cardiovascular collapse, leading to more available organs for transplantation. Design: Prospective, before and after clinical study. Setting: A surgical intensive care unit of an academic county hospital. Patients: During a 12-month period (September 1, 1999, through August 31, 2000), we evaluated 19 hemodynamically unstable patients with traumatic and nontraumatic intracranial lesions, who were candidates for organ donation following brain death declaration. Interventions: All patients were resuscitated aggressively for organ preservation by fluids, inotropic agents, and vasopressors. If, despite all measures, the patients remained hemodynamically unstable, a bolus of 1 ampule of 50% dextrose, 2 g of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 20 U of insulin, and 20 μg of levothyroxine sodium was administered, followed by a continuous levothyroxine sodium infusion at 10 μg/h. Results: There was a significant reduction in the total vasopressor requirement after levothyroxine therapy (mean±SD, 11.1±0.9 μg/kg per minute vs 6.4±1.4 μg/kg per minute, P=.02). Ten patients (53%) had complete discontinuation of vasopressors. There were no failures to reach organ donation due to cardiopulmonary arrest. Conclusions: Levothyroxine therapy plays an important role in the management of hemodynamically unstable potential organ donors by decreasing vasopressor requirements and preventing cardiovascular collapse. This may result in an increase in the quantity and quality of organs available for transplantation.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 11735863
AN - SCOPUS:0035213308
VL - 136
SP - 1377
EP - 1380
JO - JAMA Surgery
JF - JAMA Surgery
SN - 2168-6254
IS - 12
ER -