Question

In the Maastricht classification of donation after cardiac death, what does category (stage) 3 represent?

• A. Awaiting cardiac arrest
• B. Brought in dead
• C. Unsuccessful resuscitation
• D. Cardiac arrest after brain-stem death

Hint:

Category III is the controlled, planned-withdrawal scenario.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The Maastricht system sorts donors after cardiac death into ordered categories, so we recall each one in sequence.

Step 2: Category I covers patients brought in dead (uncontrolled), and category II covers those after failed resuscitation (uncontrolled).

Step 3: Category III is the controlled scenario of a patient awaiting cardiac arrest, where withdrawal of treatment is planned and death is expected, allowing a controlled organ retrieval.

Step 4: Category IV is cardiac arrest occurring in a patient already brain-stem dead. Thus stage 3 is awaiting cardiac arrest.

\[\boxed{\text{Awaiting cardiac arrest}}\]