This document discusses the definition and diagnosis of brain stem death. It defines death as the irreversible loss of consciousness and breathing capacity, both of which reside in the brain stem. The diagnosis of brain stem death involves confirming that all brain stem reflexes are absent and that the patient is incapable of breathing independently during an apnoea test, where they are disconnected from life support ventilation and observed for any respiratory effort. If no breathing is triggered, brain stem death is established and the time of death is determined.

1. DEATH
(Definition and
Diagnosis of Brain
Stem Death)
Nur Farra Najwa Binti Abdul Azim
082015100035

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVE
• Understand what is death
• Diagnosis of brain stem death
– Reflexes
– Apnoea test

3. INTRODUCTION
• Thanatology
• Death is inevitable reality
• Declared by doctor once he convinced there is
cessation of life
1. Stop breathing
2. Heart stop beating
3. Unresponsiveness
4. Body turn cold

4. BASIC CONCEPT OF DEATH
• Irreversible loss of the capacity for
consciousness and capacity to breath.
• Both function reside in brain stem.

5. BRAIN STEM (STRUCTURE)

6. DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN DEATH
1. Comatose and unable to breath spontanously
(unconscious and on ventilator.)
2. Exclusion of other coma causes
3. Establish
1. All brain stem reflex absent
2. Apnoea test

7. DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN STEM DEATH
(REFLEXES)

13. APNOEA TEST

14. Cont.
• Prove patient incapable to breath
Disconnect
ventilator
Allow
build up
of carbon
dioxide
If there is any live
cell in respiratory
center, it will
trigger off the
respiration

17. TIME OF DEATH
• Time brain stem death established

18. SUMMARY
• Understand what is death
• Diagnosis of brain stem death
– Reflexes
– Apnoea test

19. REFERENCES
• Textbook Of Forensics Medicine And
Toxicology, 16th Edition, VV Pillay

20. THANK YOU