Biomedical subjects

C L Jaynes

Publications and source records attributed to C L Jaynes.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Evaluating a successful coroner protocol.

The coroner release rates for the service of a particular organ procurement organization were evaluated through a retrospective analysis, which included the year before (1991), the year during (1992), and the year after (1993) the adoption of a formal protocol for coroner's cases. In 1991, 22 of 55 (40%) coroner cases were denied for donation by the coroner. In 1992 and 1993, 12 of 55 (22%) and 9 of 56 (16%) coroner cases, respectively, were denied for donation. More significantly, in 1991, 4 of 6 (67%) cases of homicidal gunshot wound to the head were denied for donation by the coroner, whereas only 1 of 13 (8%) such cases were denied in 1993. Also in 1991 all closed head injuries (two) from falls were denied for donation by the coroner, whereas in 1993 1 of 8 (12%) closed head injuries was denied for donation. Finally, all 4 of 4 nonaccidental traumas (ie, child abuse) were denied in 1991, but 1 of 2 were released in both 1992 and 1993. Further education and awareness efforts could reduce the rates of coroner denial even more significantly.

Clinical Protocols↗

PubMed1994

Decreasing the organ donor shortage by increasing communication between coroners, medical examiners and organ procurement organizations.

In 1991, 22 potential organ donors in Colorado were lost due to coroner refusal. This reflects a 41% loss of organ donors in Colorado based on 53 donors for the same year, which prompted Colorado Organ Recovery Systems to ascertain whether there was a national trend in coroner/medical examiner refusal of potential organ donors. A survey was developed to determine the release rates of investigators for the six most common scenarios that lead to organ donation. These surveys were mailed to each organ procurement organization in the United States and were returned by 55 (82%) of them. Coroners were found to release cases for organ donation approximately one-half as often as medical examiners. Child abuse (nonaccidental trauma) is the category least often released, with coroners releasing only 8% of the time, while suicide is the category most often released (still, only 54% of the time). Different investigators in the same areas are consistent approximately 72% of the time. These figures, when presented to a task force, initiated the development of a protocol for organ and tissue donation for coroners' cases in Colorado. Early results of the protocol include the coroners' release of six organ donor cases since its introduction.

Colorado↗

PubMed1993

Practical reduction of transplantation costs. Use of commercial transportation instead of charter aircraft for sharing pancreas grafts.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate cost savings in pancreas transplantation through use of commercial organ transportation. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Independent Organ Procurement Organization, Denver, Colo. SUBJECTS: Forty-three consecutive pancreas grafts recovered by Colorado transplantation surgeons and transported via charter aircraft (53.4%) or commercial airlines (46.6%) to transplantation centers outside Colorado. MEASUREMENTS: Actuarial graft survival at 1 year was calculated. Transportation costs were also obtained. MAIN RESULTS: Transportation of organs via charter aircraft cost an average of $3658.37 compared with an average of $102.40 for commercial airline transportation (average cost difference, $3555.97). Graft survival was 73.9% for chartered grafts vs 80.0% for commercially shipped grafts. Mean preservation times were 13 hours 54 minutes for chartered grafts vs 17 hours 50 minutes for commercial transportation. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated a significant cost savings when pancreas grafts were transported via commercial airlines instead of chartered aircraft. These cost savings were obtained without negative sequelae in clinical outcome, encouraging widespread use of commercial airlines for transporting shared pancreas grafts.

Aircraft↗