Determining Brain Death: Back to the Basics

Joseph Drazkowski

doi:10.1055/s-2007-985330

Seminars in Neurology, Table of Contents

Semin Neurol 2007; 27(4): 393-399
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-985330

Determining Brain Death: Back to the Basics

Joseph Drazkowski¹

¹Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The subject of brain death usually becomes clinically relevant during a tremendously stressful time. For most practitioners, the need to make a diagnosis of brain death occurs infrequently. Since the introduction of the concept of brain death, the criteria have been refined to their current state. The historical background and the current standards and guidelines used to diagnose brain death will be reviewed. Potential future changes in brain death criteria when contemplating organ donation in the critically ill patient will be discussed.

KEYWORDS

Brain death - confirmatory tests - apnea test - organ donation

Full Text

References

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Joseph DrazkowskiM.D.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Hospital

5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85054