ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Relatives’ experiences of end-of-life care and organ donation after controlled circulatory death: a national prospective multicenter study
Authors' conclusion
Relatives of potential cDCDD donors experience high levels of psychological distress, but OD discussions did not exacerbate burden.
Study context
- Population
- Relatives of patients identified as potential cDCDD donors after a decision to withdraw life-sustaining measures (WLSM), 32 French ICUs118 followed up at 3 months
- Participants
- 159 relatives
- Exposure
- Organ donation (OD)+ vs OD-
- OD+n = 119
- OD-n = 40reference
- Outcome
- PTSD symptoms (IES-R)
- Follow-up
- 3 and 6 months
Methodological detailsmulticentre, national, Follow-up completed in 109 relatives at 6 months
- Multicentre
- National
- Follow-up completed in 109 relatives at 6 months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
3 months
- PTSD symptoms reported by one third of relatives
- Psychological outcomes did not differ between OD+ and OD-
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Anxiety and depression (HADS) · 3 months
- Half reported anxiety and one third depression, persisting at 6 months for a substantial proportion
Distressing experience of dying and death (CAESAR)
- Around 10% described a distressing experience
Prolonged grief disorder (prolonged grief (PG-13))
- Fewer than 10% met criteria
Perception of being asked to authorize donation
- Perceived being asked to authorize donation, though most felt involved in WLSM and OD discussions
- 80%
Original publication
Relatives’ experiences of end-of-life care and organ donation after controlled circulatory death: a national prospective multicenter study. Crit Care. Published 21 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →