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Published in:

01-10-2009 | Review Article

Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Brain Death

Authors: Katharina M. Busl, David M. Greer

Published in: Neurocritical Care | Issue 2/2009

Abstract

Since the establishment of the concept of declaring death by brain criteria, a large extent of variability in the determination of brain death has been reported. There are no standardized practical guidelines, and major differences exist in the requirements for the declaration of brain death throughout the USA and internationally. The American Academy of Neurology published evidence-based practice parameters for the determination of brain death in adults in 1995, requiring the irreversible absence of clinical brain function with the cardinal features of coma, absent brainstem reflexes, and apnea, as well as the exclusion of reversible confounders. Ancillary tests are recommended in cases of uncertainty of the clinical diagnosis. Every step in the determination of brain death bears potential pitfalls which can lead to errors in the diagnosis of brain death. These pitfalls are presented here, and possible solutions identified. Suggestions are made for improvement in the standardization of the declaration of brain death.

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Title: Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Brain Death
Authors: Katharina M. Busl
David M. Greer
Publication date: 01-10-2009
Publisher: Humana Press Inc
Published in: Neurocritical Care / Issue 2/2009
Print ISSN: 1541-6933
Electronic ISSN: 1556-0961
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9231-y

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Brain Death

Abstract

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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Other articles of this Issue 2/2009

False Positive CT Angiography in Brain Death

Quantitative EEG Correlates of Low Cerebral Perfusion in Severe Stroke

Cardiac Troponin I and Acute Lung Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Milrinone as a Rescue Therapy for Symptomatic Refractory Cerebral Vasospasm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Performance Characteristics of a Sliding-Scale Hypertonic Saline Infusion Protocol for the Treatment of Acute Neurologic Hyponatremia

Is Daily Awakening Always Safe in Severely Brain Injured Patients?