The document discusses the history and criteria for determining brain death. It outlines the 1959 definition of brain death and subsequent guidelines from 1968, 1981, 1994, and 2005. Brain death is defined as the absence of cerebral and brainstem function, and apnea. The document describes tests to assess brainstem reflexes and the requirement of confirming irreversible brain injury before declaring brain death.
2. Prior to the advent of mechanical respiration, death
was defined as the cessation of circulation and
breathing
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3. 1959 Coma de’passe’ Mollaret and Goulon
1968 Irreversible Coma/Brain Death Harvard Medical
School Ad Hoc Committee
1981 Uniform Determination of Death Act - President’s
Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in
Medicine
1994 American Academy of Neurology Guidelines for the
determination of Brain Death
2005 NYS Guidelines for Determining Brain Death
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4. Absent Cerebral Function
Absent Brainstem Function
Apnea
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18. g
ellin
l Sw
rona
Neu ICP>MAP is
incompatible with
life
ury
l Inj
Flow ranial
Increased Intracranial
rona
Pressure
c
Intra
Neu
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19. Persistent Vegetative State
Locked-in Syndrome
Minimally Responsive State
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20. Normal Sleep-Wake Cycles
No Response to Environmental Stimuli
Diffuse Brain Injury with Preservation of Brain
Stem Function
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21. Ventral Pontine
Infarct
Complete Paralysis
Preserved Consciousness
Preserved Eye Movement
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22. Static Encephalopathy
Diffuse or Multi-Focal Brain Injury
Preserved Brain Stem Function
Variable Interaction with Environmental
Stimuli
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23. Clinical Prerequisites:
Known Irreversible Cause
Exclusion of Potentially Reversible Conditions
Drug Intoxication or Poisoning
Electrolyte or Acid-Base Imbalance
Endocrine Disturbances
Core Body temperature > 32° C
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24. Coma
Absent Brain Stem Reflexes
Apnea
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25. No Response to Noxious Stimuli
Nail Bed Pressure
Sternal Rub
Supra-Orbital Ridge Pressure
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26. Pupillary Reflex
Eye Movements
Facial Sensation and Motor Response
Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex
Tracheal (Cough) Reflex
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30. Corneal Reflex
Jaw Reflex
Grimace to Supraorbital or
Temporo-Mandibular Pressure
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31. Prerequisites
Core Body Temperature > 32° C
Systolic Blood Pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg
Normal Electrolytes
Normal PCO2
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32. 1. Pre-Oxygenation
100% Oxygen via Tracheal Cannula
PO2 = 200 mm Hg
2. Monitor PCO2 and PO2 with pulse oximetry
3. Disconnect Ventilator
4. Observe for Respiratory Movement until PCO2 =
60 mm Hg
5. Discontinue Testing if BP < 90, PO2 saturation
decreases, or cardiac dysrhythmia observed
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35. Recommended when the proximate cause of
coma is not known or when confounding
clinical conditions limit the clinical
examination
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36. EE
G
Normal Electrocerebral Silence
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42. Concern for man and his fate must always form
the chief interest of all technical endeavors.
Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams
and equations.
Albert Einstein
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