RESPIRATORY THERAPYS ROLE IN ORGAN PROCUREMENT

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RESPIRATORY THERAPYS ROLE IN ORGAN PROCUREMENT

• Presented By
• Lon W Lancaster RRT
• Clinical Coordinator
• Cardiopulmonary Services
• Kern Medical Center

2
What Does Respiratory Have To Offer

• They are first responders to all trauma cases.
• All donor patients will be on ventilators.
• If there is any chance of procuring the lungs
  therapy needs to be initiated early.
• They often have insights into the hospitals
  internal working that may helpful.

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First Responders

• All Trauma activations include Respiratory.
• They will accompany the patient to various
  procedures like CT scans.
• This make them perfect for early notification of
  a possible donor.
• As we all know the earlier the notification the
  better.

4
All Donor Candidates are on Mechanical
Ventilators

• Whether traumatic or spontaneous nearly all donor
  candidates will be placed on mechanical
  ventilators.
• This always requires a Respiratory Therapist.
• Again the perfect person to make early contact.

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Do the Lungs Have a Chance of being Transplanted?

• If so you must start early.
• The Respiratory Therapist is the key person if
  the lungs are to be saved.
• They must understand the importance of their
  actions or no actions
• At KMC we have saved 7 lungs last year and 7 so
  far this year.

6
What are Our Methods

• First we do everything possible to prevent
  aspiration.
• We over inflate the cuff and provide aggressive
  oral suction.
• We begin therapy that will mobilize secretions
  such as CPT, IPV or percussive vest therapy.
• We minimize saline lavage.

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Methods cont

• We place the patient on pressure control
  ventilation.
• We maintain 10 cm of positive end expiratory
  pressure.
• We assure the therapist caring for the patient
  has the time needed to accomplish all of this.
• As we all know we or not just working toward
  saving one life but many lives maybe saved by
  caring for this patient.

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Insights

• Respiratory Therapy works in every area of the
  hospital.
• This gives them the knowledge of who to contact
  for various needs.
• This could prove very helpful since time is
  usually of the essence in so many of the things
  we do.

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Conclusion

• Take advantage of the Respiratory Department that
  you work with.
• Show them the value of their contribution.
• Educate them.
• Train them to be a point of early contact.
• Teach them on how to save the lungs.