Brain Death

The clinical diagnosis of brain death (see Chapter 79 ) is made when there is demonstration of the absence of all cerebral and brain stem function ( Table 38-5 ). Various clinical tests have been devised to diagnose brain death ( Table 38-6 ). Apnea testing is accepted as an essential component of the evaluation; however, electrocerebral silence on the EEG, when not confounded by the presence of high-dose barbiturates, metabolic encephalopathy, or very young age, supports the diagnosis of brain death.^{[51] [56]}