1. Department of Computer Science Stony Brook University
Lecture 4: Deceased vs. Living Donors
Scott A. Smolka
Department of Computer Science
Stony Brook University

2. Deceased Donors & Brain Death
Bodies of those who have suffered brain death can be maintained on a ventilator, which provides oxygen to the heart to keep it beating.
Such people can donate following organs and profoundly help many people, both saving and improving lives.
Heart Lungs Liver Kidneys Pancreas Small Intestine
Corneas/Eyes Heart Valves Skin
Bone Veins
Individuals organs are removed in operating room while heart function is maintain with artificial support.

3. Deceased Donors & Cardiac Death
Those who have suffered cardiac death have no cardiac or respiratory function
Because of this, many organs in body already damaged
Patients who suffer cardiac death can still provide following donations:
Corneas/Eyes Heart Valves Skin
Bone Veins
Tissue can be donated up to 24 hours after death.

4. Kidney Partial Liver Partial Lung
Living Donors
Living individuals who may or may not be related to the potential recipient(s).
Potential living donors undergo screening and compatibility testing.
Transplants possible from living donors include:
Kidney Partial Liver Partial Lung
Bone Marrow Blood

5. “Brain Death is Death” or What Does Brain Death Mean?
Brain death means there is no blood flow or oxygen to brain
Therefore the brain cannot function in any capacity and never will again
Does not mean that other organs, such as heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and liver are dead, although they may only function for a few days
Unless damaged by disease or injury, these organs may be used by another individual via organ transplant

6. How is Brain Death Determined?
Two licensed, independent physicians perform a series of tests to determine whether or not brain death has occurred
Death is indicated if the patient:
cannot breathe without assistance
has no pupilary response to light or other central nervous system reflexes
has no response to pain

7. Why Does the Heart Continue to Beat?
The heart has its own pacemaker, independent of the brain
With oxygen, the heart will continue to beat

8. Brain Death and Respiratory Support
Would removing respiratory support from a patient be the same as not giving him or her all possible chances for survival?
Once patient is brain dead, he or she is dead because the brain will not recover
Respiratory support equipment only keeps the heart beating, supplying the vital organs with oxygen
Recorded time of death is when the patient is declared dead, not when the heart actually stops beating

9. Further Questions about Brain Death
Does body of a brain-dead patient sometimes begin to deteriorate, even if patient is on life support?
Failure of many organs begins soon after brain death
Does the patient feel any pain during donation?
No, the person is dead and no longer feels pain

10. Causes of Brain Death Trauma to the Brain
Examples: severe head injury caused by motor-vehicle crash, a fall, or blow to the head
Cerebrovascular Injury (massive bleeding or blood clot in brain)
Examples: stroke, aneurysm
Anoxia (loss of oxygen to the brain)
Examples: drowning or heart attack (when emergency procedures result in restoration of heartbeat and respiration, but not before lack of blood flow / oxygen to brain has caused brain death)
Brain Tumor
Uncontrollable growth of a brain tumor can cause permanent loss of blood flow/oxygen to the brain

11. Brain Death vs. Cardiac Death
Brain-dead patient is ventilated, meaning he or she is taking in oxygen via a machine
Although that oxygen is not feeding brain, it may be feeding body’s vital organs, keeping organs viable, suitable for transplant
Cardiac death means patient is without oxygen. His or her heart has stopped beating
Person not able to donate organs, but may donate tissue

12. Brain Death vs. Cardiac Death (continued)
Patient is maintained on a ventilator and the cardiac output is maintained. 
Donor organs are removed in the operating room while organ function is maintained with a ventilator, fluid and medication.
Patient has no cardiac or
respiratory activity.
Body must be kept cool if
tissues are not removed
immediately. Removal of most
tissues occurs within 24 hours
of death.
Acceptable Donations
heart or heart valves
kidneys
liver
pancreas
lungs
small intestine
(Tissue can be recovered following organ removal)
heart valves
bone
ligaments
tendons
cartilage
skin
veins
fascia
middle ear
corneas

13. 5-K Course Project
Proposal, co-authored by Margaret Gallagher of NYODN, submitted to Dean of Students Jerry Stein, Assistant VP George Meyer, and Director of Office for Conferences & Special Events Arlene Skala
Date of event may change to avoid conflicts; run part may be eliminated to avoid road closings
Let’s still plan on setting up shop in SAC lobby on two consecutive Tuesdays (during class time) in April

14. Things to Do this Week
Visit and
Enroll at least one person in the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry
Discuss organ and tissue donation with your family