Brain Death

Brain Death
Anatomy and Physiology
Joel S. Cohen, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Historical Perspective
Prior to the advent of mechanical

respiration, death was defined as the
cessation of circulation and breathing
Historical Perspective
 1959 Coma de’passe’ Mollaret and Goulon
 1968 Irreversible Coma/Brain Death Harvard Medical

School Ad Hoc Committee
 1981 Uniform Determination of Death Act - President’s

Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine
 1994 American Academy of Neurology Guidelines for the

determination of Brain Death
 2005 NYS Guidelines for Determining Brain Death

Brain Death Current Consensus
 Absent Cerebral Function
 Absent Brainstem Function
 Apnea
Normal Brain Anatomy
Normal Brain Anatomy
Cerebral Cortex
Reticular
Activating
Brain Stem System
Cerebral Cortex
 Cognition
 Voluntary Movement
 Sensation
Brain Stem
Brain Stem
Midbrain
Cranial Nerve III
 pupillary function
 eye movement
Brain Stem
Pons
Cranial Nerves IV, V, VI
 conjugate eye movement
 corneal reflex
Brain Stem
Medulla
Cranial Nerves IX, X
 Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex
 Tracheal (Cough) Reflex
Respiration
Reticular Activating
System
 Receives multiple
sensory inputs
 Mediates
wakefulness
Causes of Brain Death
Normal Cerebral Anoxia

Normal Cerebral Hemorrhage

Normal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Normal Trauma
Normal Meningitis
Mechanism of Cerebral Death
Neuronal Injury Neuronal Swelling
ICP>MAP is
incompatible
with life
Decreased Intracranial Increased Intracranial

Blood Flow Pressure
Conditions Distinct From
Brain Death
 Persistent Vegetative State
 Locked-in Syndrome
 Minimally Responsive State

Persistent Vegetative State
 Normal Sleep-Wake Cycles
 No Response to Environmental Stimuli
 Diffuse Brain Injury with Preservation

of Brain Stem Function
Locked-in Syndrome
Ventral Pontine Infarct
 Complete Paralysis
 Preserved Consciousness
 Preserved Eye Movement

Minimally Responsive State
Static Encephalopathy
 Diffuse or Multi-Focal Brain Injury
 Preserved Brain Stem Function
 Variable Interaction with

Environmental Stimuli
Brain Death Neurological
Examination
Clinical Prerequisites:
 Known Irreversible Cause
 Exclusion of Potentially Reversible Conditions

 Drug Intoxication or Poisoning
 Electrolyte or Acid-Base Imbalance
 Endocrine Disturbances
 Core Body temperature > 32° C

Brain Death Neurological
Examination
 Coma
 Absent Brain Stem Reflexes
 Apnea
Coma
No Response to Noxious Stimuli
 Nail Bed Pressure
 Sternal Rub
 Supra-Orbital Ridge Pressure

Absence of Brain Stem
Reflexes
 Pupillary Reflex
 Eye Movements
 Facial Sensation and Motor Response
 Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex
 Tracheal (Cough) Reflex

Pupillary Reflex
Pupils dilated with no constriction to bright light

Eye Movements
Occulo-Cephalic Response
“Doll’s Eyes Maneuver”
Eye Movements
Oculo-Vestibular Response
“Cold Caloric Testing”
Facial Sensation and
Motor Response
 Corneal Reflex
 Jaw Reflex
 Grimace to Supraorbital or
Temporo-Mandibular Pressure
Apnea Testing
Prerequisites
 Core Body Temperature > 32° C
 Systolic Blood Pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg
 Normal Electrolytes
 Normal PCO2
Apnea Testing
1. Pre-Oxygenation
 100% Oxygen via Tracheal Cannula
 PO2 = 200 mm Hg
2. Monitor PCO2 and PO2 with pulse oximetry

3. Disconnect Ventilator
4. Observe for Respiratory Movement until PCO2 =
60 mm Hg
5. Discontinue Testing if BP < 90, PO2 saturation
decreases, or cardiac dysrhythmia observed
Confounding Clinical
Conditions
 Facial Trauma
 Pupillary Abnormalities
 CNS Sedatives or Neuromuscular Blockers
 Hepatic Failure
 Pulmonary Disease
Observations Compatible
with Brain Death
 Sweating, Blushing
 Deep Tendon Reflexes
 Spontaneous Spinal Reflexes- Triple Flexion
 Babinski Sign
Confirmatory Testing
Recommended when the proximate

cause of coma is not known or when
confounding clinical conditions limit
the clinical examination
EEG
Normal Electrocerebral Silence

Cerebral Angiography
Normal No Intracranial Flow

Technetium-99 Isotope Brain Scan

MR- Angiography
Transcranial Ultrasonography
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials

Concern for man and his fate must
always form the chief interest of all
technical endeavors. Never forget
this in the midst of your diagrams
and equations.
Albert Einstein

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Anatomy and Physiology

Joel S. Cohen, M.D.

Prior to the advent of mechanical

 1968 Irreversible Coma/Brain Death Harvard Medical

 1981 Uniform Determination of Death Act - President’s

 1994 American Academy of Neurology Guidelines for the

 2005 NYS Guidelines for Determining Brain Death

 Absent Cerebral Function

 Absent Brainstem Function

Normal Cerebral Anoxia

Normal Cerebral Hemorrhage

Normal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Neuronal Injury Neuronal Swelling

Decreased Intracranial Increased Intracranial

 Persistent Vegetative State

 Minimally Responsive State

 Normal Sleep-Wake Cycles

 No Response to Environmental Stimuli

 Diffuse Brain Injury with Preservation

Ventral Pontine Infarct

 Preserved Eye Movement

 Diffuse or Multi-Focal Brain Injury

 Preserved Brain Stem Function

 Variable Interaction with

 Known Irreversible Cause

 Exclusion of Potentially Reversible Conditions

 Core Body temperature > 32° C

 Absent Brain Stem Reflexes

No Response to Noxious Stimuli

 Nail Bed Pressure

 Supra-Orbital Ridge Pressure

 Facial Sensation and Motor Response

 Pharyngeal (Gag) Reflex

 Tracheal (Cough) Reflex

Pupils dilated with no constriction to bright light

 Core Body Temperature > 32° C

 Systolic Blood Pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg

2. Monitor PCO2 and PO2 with pulse oximetry

 CNS Sedatives or Neuromuscular Blockers

 Deep Tendon Reflexes

 Spontaneous Spinal Reflexes- Triple Flexion

Recommended when the proximate

Normal Electrocerebral Silence

Normal No Intracranial Flow

Technetium-99 Isotope Brain Scan

Somatosensory Evoked Potentials

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