Organ donation after cardiac death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are often told that solid organ donation is not possible following death, although the reasons for exclusion are not evidence based. Because ALS patients typically remain sentient until death, organs may be procured under donation after cardiac death protocols. Anticipating this need, our institution created a process for organ donation in ventilator-dependent ALS patients that was subsequently implemented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of organ donation in a patient with rapidly progressive ventilator-dependent ALS.