Neurology Diagnostics

Archive for the ‘Brain Death’ Category

The results of a study published in the journal Neurology suggests that the declaration of brain death occurs under certain complex circumstances, and is usually performed on patients who are hemodynamically unstable, requiring vasopressors and vasopressin.

In many cases, the apnea test can be completed successfully. In those who could not successfully carry out other tests are required to confirm brain death.

To determine this result performed a detailed review of 228 patients who were declared brain dead at the Mayo Clinic between 1996 and 2007.

Most of these cases were the result of a traumatic brain injury (32%) or intracerebral hematoma, or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (39%).

Brain death was declared within 24 hours after admission in 69 patients (30%), 1 to 2 days after admission in 47 patients (21%), between day 2 and 3 in 26 patients (11 %), and after three days in 86 patients (38%).

The proof of apnea can not be done in 16 patients because haemodynamic instability or poor oxygenation at baseline.

Traumatic brain injury in patients with multiple trauma were more significant for patients who could not perform, or in which they had to stop, the apnea test than those who could complete the test.