Isolated brain-stem death. Case report with demonstration of preserved visual evoked potentials (VEPs).
Brain-stem death is a state in which brain-stem functions have ceased whereas the hemispheres still have electrical activity. We report a patient with a haematoma over the cerebellum and the pons who showed a preserved electroencephalogram and VEPs whereas all clinical signs of cerebral death was present. Normal VEPs in isolated brain-stem death have not yet been reported. We conclude that in any case of infratentorial lesion, an electroencephalogram should be recorded for the diagnosis of brain death.
A
A
Ferbert
H
H
Buchner
E B
EB
Ringelstein
W
W
Hacke
D001926:Brain Death; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged