SCOT Data: Deceased heart beating donor and organ transplantation in Saudi Arabia

There were 615 deceased heart beating cases (possible donors) reported to Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation in 2010 from 97 hospitals with intensive care units. Of this total, 369 cases (60%) were fully documented to have irreversible neurologic determination of death (potential donors) according to our National Protocol. Families were approached (eligible) in 297 cases (80%) where as consent for organ donation was obtained in 115 cases (39%) of all diagnosed and approached cases where the families could be contacted and the issue of donation was discussed. On the other hand, family refusal to donate organs constituted 61% of the family approached cases. Out of the 115 consented cases, organs of 98 of them (85%) were harvested (actual) during 2010.