title: [Criteria of brain death. Spinal reflexes in 45 personal studies].
abstract: In 45 patients without spontaneous breathing or cranial reflexes, and in whom blood pressure had to be supported, spinal reflexes were obtained in 60% and polysynaptic spinal reflexes in 33%. In all cases angiography showed cerebral circulatory arrest and/or repeated EEG recording gave an isoelectric line. The presence of spinal reflexes, appearing most frequently 6-36 h after death (which we defined as a sudden fall in blood pressure below 80 mm Hg with absence of spontaneous breathing) is not in contradiction with the assumption of brain death. 9 patients without signs of intoxication showed, in addition, a fall in body temperature below 34 degrees C. Such a fall in body temperature also in agreement with the diagnosis of brain death.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D001926:Brain Death; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012018:Reflex; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*
vernacular_title: Kriterien des Hirntodes. Die spinalen Reflexe bei 45 eigenen Beobachtungen