Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
11-5-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
11-5-2023 4:00 PM
Description
Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of all brain and brainstem functions. While the criteria for diagnosing brain death have been established and refined since 1995, physicians remain uncomfortable with making the diagnosis leading to delays in pronouncing the patient as brain dead. While seemingly benign, a delay in pronouncing a patient as brain dead can place a financial burden on the family and cause additional and unnecessary emotional distress. Furthermore, delayed pronunciation of death causes improper delegation of the medical care team's resources and loss of the patient's potential to serve as an organ donor. The purpose of this research is to outline and review the currently accepted clinical criteria to determine brain death at the bedside by examining the relevant neuroanatomical pathways of brain stem reflexes and spinal tracts involved in each diagnostic test. We hope that by illuminating the underlying pathophysiology of loss of brainstem reflexes this paper can serve as a tool for providers to better understand brain death and become comfortable with making the diagnosis in a timely manner.
Embargo Period
6-14-2023
Included in
End of Life in the ED – Brain Death and Organ Transplantation
Suwanee, GA
Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of all brain and brainstem functions. While the criteria for diagnosing brain death have been established and refined since 1995, physicians remain uncomfortable with making the diagnosis leading to delays in pronouncing the patient as brain dead. While seemingly benign, a delay in pronouncing a patient as brain dead can place a financial burden on the family and cause additional and unnecessary emotional distress. Furthermore, delayed pronunciation of death causes improper delegation of the medical care team's resources and loss of the patient's potential to serve as an organ donor. The purpose of this research is to outline and review the currently accepted clinical criteria to determine brain death at the bedside by examining the relevant neuroanatomical pathways of brain stem reflexes and spinal tracts involved in each diagnostic test. We hope that by illuminating the underlying pathophysiology of loss of brainstem reflexes this paper can serve as a tool for providers to better understand brain death and become comfortable with making the diagnosis in a timely manner.