RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Evidence-based guideline update: Determining brain death in adults
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 1911
OP 1918
DO 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181e242a8
VO 74
IS 23
A1 Wijdicks, Eelco F.M.
A1 Varelas, Panayiotis N.
A1 Gronseth, Gary S.
A1 Greer, David M.
YR 2010
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/74/23/1911.abstract
AB 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. 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.