Auditory brain-stem response in determination of brain death.
A diagnosis of brain death requires evidence of irreversible destruction (or dysfunction) of neurons in the brain stem and cerebrum. The physical examination is not a valid index of brain integrity in patients who are drug-intoxicated or receiving therapeutic paralyzing agents or high-dose barbiturates. We evaluated the use of the auditory brain-stem response (ABR) as an ancillary test in the determination of brain death. A total of 100 combined ABR and nuclear cerebral blood flow studies were completed at bedside with 81 acute, severely brain-injured adults. The ABR and cerebral blood flow outcomes were significantly correlated. We conclude that the ABR is a clinically feasible and useful procedure in the determination of brain death, especially in patients whose medical therapy compromises the neurologic examination.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001926:Brain Death; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed