Living Donors’ Cognitive Distortion Regarding Perioperative Anesthetic Concerns and Anesthesiologists; Rebirth or Restoration of Trust

Abstract

Background: Organ transplantation is a critical, life-saving technique for individuals suffering from end-stage organ failure. Human  organs are obtained from brain dead donors following the pronouncement of cardiac death, or from living donors. Among the numerous kinds of organ transplants, living donor liver transplantation stands out.

Objective: To evaluate living donors’ cognitive distortion regarding perioperative anesthetic concerns and anesthesiologists.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 120 living donors and was carried out at the National Liver Institute Hospital,  during the period of the study.

Results: There was significant relation among knowledge of donor regarding types of anesthesia with sex, operative history, job,  education, marital status, the relation of the donor to recipient, the reason for donation, donor concern regarding problem in anesthesia,  knowledge of donor about years or faculty of anesthetist, donor concern regarding preference of male-female anesthetist, fear of long  hospital stay, fear of anesthesia and surgery, intraoperative awareness, disclosing personal matter, attendance of the anesthetist of the  whole operation, fear of needles, fear of nausea and vomiting, knowledge of donor about the importance of preoperative visit, and donor  concern if the liver will grow again (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Although most donors made the decision to donate by themselves, and  they looked strong and committed in their decision, a large proportion of donors were concerned about potential problems of organ  donation and the implications on their life afterward. A specific and rigorous psychosocial evaluation methodology is required to assist and safeguard their decision before and after donation.