What is essential to maintain for the patient's metabolic function until extubation in DCD cases?

Collaboration with the healthcare team is essential to maintain the patient's metabolic function until extubation in Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) cases. This collaboration ensures that all members of the team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical professionals, work together to monitor the patient's vital signs, provide necessary interventions, and make informed decisions about care at every stage.

In DCD cases, where timing and coordination are paramount due to the nature of the procedure and the risks of ischemic changes after a heart stops, effective communication among team members is critically important. This collaborative approach ensures that metabolic functions such as oxygenation, blood pressure, and perfusion are maintained properly and that the patient is stabilized, thus optimizing the chances of a successful intervention post-extubation.

On the other hand, while intensive care unit monitoring, the patient's active participation, and family presence may play supportive roles in the overall care process, they do not replace the necessity for a coordinated team effort that ensures comprehensive metabolic support for the patient in these critical situations.