Professional Documents
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Cardiac death:
Brain death:
First introduced in a 1968 report authored by a special committee of the Harvard Medical School Adopted in 1980, with modifications, by the President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical Research, as a recommendation for state legislatures and courts The "brain death" standard was also employed in the model legislation known as the Uniform Determination of Death Act, which has been enacted by a large number of jurisdictions and the standard has been endorsed by the influential American Bar Association.
1. Clinical or radiographic evidence of an acute catastrophic cerebral event consistent w/ dx of brain death 2. Exclusion of conditions that confound clinical evidence (i.e.-metabolic) 3. Confirmation of absence of drug intoxication or poisoning
Supra-orbital ridge, the nail beds, trapezius Motor responses may occur spontaneously during apnea testing (spinal reflexes) Spinal reflex responses occur more often in young If pt had NMB, then test w/ train-of-four
Round, oval, or irregularly shaped Midsize (4-6 mm), but may be totally dilated Absent pupillary light reflex
Although drugs can influence pupillary size, the light reflex remains intact only in the absence of brain death IV atropine does not markedly affect response Paralytics do not affect pupillary size Topical administration of drugs and eye trauma may influence pupillary size and reactivity Pre-existing ocular anatomic abnormalities may also confound pupillary assessment in brain death
Oculocephalic reflex
Rapidly turn the head 90 on both sides Normal response = deviation of the eyes to the opposite side of head turning Brain death = oculocephalic reflexes are absent (no Dolls eyes) = no eye movement in response to head movement Painted vs. wooden eyes in porcelain heads
Elevate the HOB 30 Irrigate both tympanic membranes with iced water
Observe pt for 1 minute after each ear irrigation, with a 5 minute wait between testing of each ear Facial trauma involving the auditory canal and petrous bone can also inhibit these reflexes
Not comatose Coma with intact brainstem Internuclear ophthalmoplegia Suggests brainstem structural lesion Brainstem injury / death
No eye movement
Corneal reflexes - tested by using a cotton-tipped swab Grimacing in response to pain can be tested by applying deep pressure to the nail beds, supraorbital ridge, TMJ, or swab in nose Severe facial trauma can inhibit interpretation of facial brain stem reflexes
Both gag and cough reflexes are absent in patients with brain death
Gag reflex can be evaluated by stimulating the posterior pharynx with a tongue blade, but the results can be difficult to evaluate in orally intubated patients Cough reflex can be tested by using ETT suctioning, past end of ETT
Apneic oxygenation
Pre-oxygenate with 100% oxygen several min Allow baseline PaCO2 to be ~40 mmHg Place pt on CPAP or bag-ETT Observe for respiratory effort for ~6 minutes Get ABG to determine PaCO2
EEG
30 minutes
Necessary to repeat the clinical examination after an appropriate observation period has passed Confirmatory EEG unless it is determined that there is no blood flow to the brain
Age 7 days to 2 months Two examinations 48 hours apart and one EEG Age 2 months-1 year Two examinations 24 hours apart and one EEG or perfusion scan
Repeat examination and EEG are not necessary if it is determined that there is no cerebral blood flow
1.
2. 3.
Clinical or radiographic evidence of an acute catastrophic cerebral event consistent w/ dx of brain death Exclusion of conditions that confound clinical evidence (i.e.-metabolic) Confirmation of absence of drug intoxication or poisoning
4.
Supra-orbital ridge, the nail beds, trapezius Motor responses may occur spontaneously during apnea testing (spinal reflexes) Spinal reflex responses occur more often in young If pt had NMB, then test w/ train-of-four
Round, oval, or irregularly shaped Midsize (4-6 mm), but may be totally dilated Absent pupillary light reflex
Although drugs can influence pupillary size, the light reflex remains intact only in the absence of brain death IV atropine does not markedly affect response Paralytics do not affect pupillary size Topical administration of drugs and eye trauma may influence pupillary size and reactivity Pre-existing ocular anatomic abnormalities may also confound pupillary assessment in brain death
Oculocephalic reflex
Rapidly turn the head 90 on both sides Normal response = deviation of the eyes to the opposite side of head turning Brain death = oculocephalic reflexes are absent (no Dolls eyes) = no eye movement in response to head movement Painted vs. wooden eyes in porcelain heads
Elevate the HOB 30 Irrigate both tympanic membranes with iced water
Observe pt for 1 minute after each ear irrigation, with a 5 minute wait between testing of each ear Facial trauma involving the auditory canal and petrous bone can also inhibit these reflexes
Not comatose Coma with intact brainstem Internuclear ophthalmoplegia Suggests brainstem structural lesion Brainstem injury / death
No eye movement
Corneal reflexes - tested by using a cotton-tipped swab Grimacing in response to pain can be tested by applying deep pressure to the nail beds, supraorbital ridge, TMJ, or swab in nose Severe facial trauma can inhibit interpretation of facial brain stem reflexes
Both gag and cough reflexes are absent in patients with brain death
Gag reflex can be evaluated by stimulating the posterior pharynx with a tongue blade, but the results can be difficult to evaluate in orally intubated patients Cough reflex can be tested by using ETT suctioning, past end of ETT
Apneic oxygenation
Pre-oxygenate with 100% oxygen several min Allow baseline PaCO2 to be ~40 mmHg Place pt on CPAP or bag-ETT Observe for respiratory effort for ~6 minutes Get ABG to determine PaCO2
EEG
30 minutes
Cerebral Cortex
Brain Stem
Midbrain
Cranial Nerve III pupillary function eye movement
Pons
Cranial Nerves IV, V, VI conjugate eye movement corneal reflex
Medulla
Cranial Nerves IX, X Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex Tracheal (Cough) Reflex
Respiration
Normal
Cerebral Anoxia
Normal
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Normal
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Normal
Trauma
Normal
Meningitis
Neuronal Injury
Neuronal Swelling
Locked-in Syndrome
Minimally Responsive State
Normal Sleep-Wake Cycles No Response to Environmental Stimuli Diffuse Brain Injury with Preservation of Brain Stem Function
Static Encephalopathy
Diffuse or Multi-Focal Brain Injury Preserved Brain Stem Function Variable Interaction with Environmental Stimuli
Clinical Prerequisites:
Coma
Pupillary Reflex
Eye Movements Facial Sensation and Motor Response Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex Tracheal (Cough) Reflex
Occulo-Cephalic Response
Corneal Reflex
Prerequisites
Core Body Temperature > 32 C Systolic Blood Pressure 90 mm Hg Normal Electrolytes Normal PCO2
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
Facial Trauma
Pupillary Abnormalities CNS Sedatives or Neuromuscular Blockers Hepatic Failure Pulmonary Disease
EE G
Normal
Electrocerebral Silence
Cerebral Angiography
Normal
No Intracranial Flow
MR- Angiography
Transcranial Ultrasonography