ImportanceThere are inconsistencies in concept, criteria, practice, and documentation of brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) both internationally and within countries.ObjectiveTo formulate a consensus statement of recommendations on determination of BD/DNC based on review of the literature and expert opinion of a large multidisciplinary, international panel.ProcessRelevant international professional societies were recruited to develop recommendations regarding determination of BD/DNC. Literature searches of the Cochrane, Embase, and MEDLINE databases included January 1, 1992, through April 2020 identified pertinent articles for review. Because of the lack of high-quality data from randomized clinical trials or large observational studies, recommendations were formulated based on consensus of contributors and medical societies that represented relevant disciplines, including critical care, neurology, and neurosurgery.Evidence SynthesisBased on review of the literature and consensus from a large multidisciplinary, international panel, minimum clinical criteria needed to determine BD/DNC in various circumstances were developed.RecommendationsPrior to evaluating a patient for BD/DNC, the patient should have an established neurologic diagnosis that can lead to the complete and irreversible loss of all brain function, and conditions that may confound the clinical examination and diseases that may mimic BD/DNC should be excluded. Determination of BD/DNC can be done with a clinical examination that demonstrates coma, brainstem areflexia, and apnea. This is seen when (1) there is no evidence of arousal or awareness to maximal external stimulation, including noxious visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation; (2) pupils are fixed in a midsize or dilated position and are nonreactive to light; (3) corneal, oculocephalic, and oculovestibular reflexes are absent; (4) there is no facial movement to noxious stimulation; (5) the gag reflex is absent to bilateral posterior pharyngeal stimulation; (6) the cough reflex is absent to deep tracheal suctioning; (7) there is no brain-mediated motor response to noxious stimulation of the limbs; and (8) spontaneous respirations are not observed when apnea test targets reach pH <7.30 and Paco2 ≥60 mm Hg. If the clinical examination cannot be completed, ancillary testing may be considered with blood flow studies or electrophysiologic testing. Special consideration is needed for children, for persons receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and for those receiving therapeutic hypothermia, as well as for factors such as religious, societal, and cultural perspectives; legal requirements; and resource availability.Conclusions and RelevanceThis report provides recommendations for the minimum clinical standards for determination of brain death/death by neurologic criteria in adults and children with clear guidance for various clinical circumstances. The recommendations have widespread international society endorsement and can serve to guide professional societies and countries in...
SummaryThe aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors linked to neurologic events (NE) occurring after liver transplantation (LT) and use them to construct a model to predict such events. From odds ratios (OR) of risk factors, a scoring system was assessed using multivariate regression analysis. Forty-one of 307 LT patients presented NE (13.3%), with prolonged hospital stay and decreased post-LT survival. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with NE included: severe pre-LT ascites OR 3.9 (1.80-8.41; P = 0.001), delta sodium ≥12 mEq/l OR 3.5 (1.36-8.67; P = 0.01), and post-LT hypomagnesemia OR 2.9 (1.37-5.98; P = 0.005). Points were assigned depending on ORs as follows: ascites 4 points, and hypomagnesemia and delta sodium ≥12 mEq/l, 3 points each (score range = 0-10 points). ROC curve analysis suggested good discriminative power for the model, with a c-statistic of 0.72 (CI 0.62-0.81; P < 0.0001), best performance for a cutoff value >3 points (71% sensitivity, 60% specificity). NE risk increased progressively from 6.4%, to 10.3%, 12.8%, 31.5% and 71.0% as scores rose from 0 to 3, 4, 6-7 and 10 cumulative points, respectively. The score described helps to identify patients potentially at risk for neurologic events, and its prevention would decrease morbidity and mortality after LT.
Background: Recent AHA Acute Stroke Guidelines endorse DHC (Class 1, Level B) based on clinical trials showing benefit of early DHC on outcome and mortality. In 2011, our multidisciplinary quality improvement team developed a process to translate DHC guideline recommendations into clinical practice. Methods: Our consensus guideline includes a tool (STATE Criteria, based on inclusion/exclusion criteria of DHC clinical trials) to rapidly identify and triage potential DHC candidates, and provide specific guidelines for pre- and post-surgical management, adjunctive therapy, and DHC after IV/IA thrombolysis. Patients meeting all STATE Criteria including age ≤ 60 years are sent for urgent DHC. Patients meeting all criteria except age ≤ 60 years receive DHC only if age < 75 years and Neurology and Neurosurgery teams reach consensus about benefit. Patients not meeting criteria are observed and referred for DHC if criteria are met within 48 hours of onset. The guideline was disseminated to all stakeholders via email, conferences, and intranet. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed process and outcome measures for DHC before and after guideline implementation in February 2011. Results: Of 1518 stroke patients age ≤ 60 years admitted between January 2007 and April 2014, 47 (3%) received DHC (22 pre- and 25 post-guideline implementation; 28% female, 13% Hispanic). Mean admission NIHSS was similar (17±7 vs 18±5; p=.82). Mean time from admission to DHC improved significantly from 45±30 hours to 29±18 hours (p=0.04). The percentage of patients undergoing DHC beyond 48 hours decreased from 27% to 16% (p=0 .35). The degree of midline shift evident on CT or MRI prior to DHC significantly decreased from 9±4 mm to 5±4 mm (p=.01). There was no significant difference in length of stay, frequency of tracheostomy, gastrostomy, pneumonia, or urinary tract infection, or percentage of patients who died within 30 days of DHC. Conclusion: Our institutional guideline has facilitated the rapid identification and triage of patients with large MCA stroke to DHC. Follow-up is ongoing to determine the impact of our guideline on functional outcome after stroke.
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