Two known approaches to the determination of neurological death in adults
Proposal of a unified concept
Abstract
The more progress is made in the knowledge of irreversible acute brain injury (ABI) and its potential evolution to brain death (BD), the more possibilities there will be for recruiting donors, with the consequent reduction in waiting lists. In our opinion, the intensivist doctor should keep this possibility in mind when dealing with victims of neuroinjury regardless of its etiology. In addition, it is essential that you know the pathophysiology of the EM syndrome and the steps to follow to carry out a complete, exhaustive and rigorous neurological examination to confirm it. To date, there are two concepts of death according to neurological criteria: total brain death (TBD) and brainstem death (BD). Although both definitions are accepted by the world medical community, some countries adopt one or the other, receiving the corresponding legal framework that endorses it. We will discuss both concepts, with the intention of trying to generate a unified and agreed concept of BD.
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