Evidence-based guideline update: Determining brain death in adults
Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
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Abstract
Objective: To provide an update of the 1995 American Academy of Neurology guideline with regard to the following questions: Are there patients who fulfill the clinical criteria of brain death who recover neurologic function? What is an adequate observation period to ensure that cessation of neurologic function is permanent? Are complex motor movements that falsely suggest retained brain function sometimes observed in brain death? What is the comparative safety of techniques for determining apnea? Are there new ancillary tests that accurately identify patients with brain death?
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted and included a review of MEDLINE and EMBASE from January 1996 to May 2009. Studies were limited to adults.
Results and recommendations: In adults, there are no published reports of recovery of neurologic function after a diagnosis of brain death using the criteria reviewed in the 1995 American Academy of Neurology practice parameter. Complex-spontaneous motor movements and false-positive triggering of the ventilator may occur in patients who are brain dead. There is insufficient evidence to determine the minimally acceptable observation period to ensure that neurologic functions have ceased irreversibly. Apneic oxygenation diffusion to determine apnea is safe, but there is insufficient evidence to determine the comparative safety of techniques used for apnea testing. There is insufficient evidence to determine if newer ancillary tests accurately confirm the cessation of function of the entire brain.
Glossary
- AAN=
- American Academy of Neurology;
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CPAP=
- continuous positive airway pressure;
- CTA=
- CT angiography;
- HMPAO=
- Tc 99mHexametazime;
- MRA=
- magnetic resonance angiography;
- PEEP=
- positive end-expiratory pressure;
- SSEP=
- somatosensory evoked potential;
- TCD=
- transcranial Doppler;
- UDDA=
- Uniform Determination of Death Act.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
- Evidence-based guideline update: Determining brain death in adults
- Calixto Machado, Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Havana, Cubabraind@infomed.sld.cu
- Jesús Pérez-Nellar, Mario Estevez, Eli Gonzalez
Submitted August 31, 2010 - Evidence-based guideline update: Determining brain death in adults
- Joseph S. Jeret, MD, FAAN, 220 Maple Avenue, suite 101,Brainsrus2@aol.com
- Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Submitted August 31, 2010 - Evidence-based guideline update for determining brain death in adults
- D. Alan Shewmon, UCLA, Neurology Dept., 2C135, Olive View-UCLA Med. Ctr., 14445 Olive View Dr., Sylmar, CA 91342-1495ashewmon@mednet.ucla.edu
- Joseph L. Verheijde (Phoenix, AZ; Verheijde.Joseph@mayo.edu), Mohamed Y. Rady (Phoenix, AZ; rady.mohamed@mayo.edu)
Submitted August 31, 2010 - Reply from the authors
- Eelco FM Wijdicks, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, guidelines@aan.com
- Panayiotis N. Varelas (Detroit, MI), Gary S. Gronseth (Kansas City, KS), David M. Greer (Boston, MA)
Submitted August 31, 2010
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