OBJECTIVE: This study examined the validity of cerebral computed tomographic (CT) angiography in the diagnosis of brain death (BD) compared with conventional cerebral angiography. METHODS: This prospective, monocentric study was performed over a 24-month period and included 43 patients, at least 18 years of age, with clinical criteria of BD. All patients underwent cerebral CT angiography and then cerebral angiography. To confirm BD, the CT scan had to show the absence of perfusion of A2 anterior cerebral artery segments (A2-ACA), M4 middle cerebral artery segments (M4-MCA), P2 posterior cerebral artery segments (P2-PCA), basilar artery, internal cerebral veins, and finally the great cerebral vein. Cerebral angiography showed cerebral blood flow arrest at the level of the foramen magnum for posterior circulation and carotid siphon for anterior circulation. RESULTS: For 30 patients, BD was confirmed by both examinations. For 13 patients, cerebral angiography confirmed BD, whereas CT angiography still showed cerebral perfusion; the divergence rate was 30.2%. CONCLUSIONS: CT angiography seems to be a promising exam to confirm BD. However, the divergence with cerebral angiography is significant mainly concerning A2-ACA, which are proximal. It may be possible to only use the absence of opacification of M4-MCA, P2-PCA, basilar artery, and venous blood return to remain in conformity with the French law. In all cases, the international medical community should obtain a consensus for the interpretation of CT angiography to use it extensively as a complementary exam for BD.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the validity of cerebral computed tomographic (CT) angiography in the diagnosis of brain death (BD) compared with conventional cerebral angiography. METHODS: This prospective, monocentric study was performed over a 24-month period and included 43 patients, at least 18 years of age, with clinical criteria of BD. All patients underwent cerebral CT angiography and then cerebral angiography. To confirm BD, the CT scan had to show the absence of perfusion of A2 anterior cerebral artery segments (A2-ACA), M4 middle cerebral artery segments (M4-MCA), P2 posterior cerebral artery segments (P2-PCA), basilar artery, internal cerebral veins, and finally the great cerebral vein. Cerebral angiography showed cerebral blood flow arrest at the level of the foramen magnum for posterior circulation and carotid siphon for anterior circulation. RESULTS: For 30 patients, BD was confirmed by both examinations. For 13 patients, cerebral angiography confirmed BD, whereas CT angiography still showed cerebral perfusion; the divergence rate was 30.2%. CONCLUSIONS: CT angiography seems to be a promising exam to confirm BD. However, the divergence with cerebral angiography is significant mainly concerning A2-ACA, which are proximal. It may be possible to only use the absence of opacification of M4-MCA, P2-PCA, basilar artery, and venous blood return to remain in conformity with the French law. In all cases, the international medical community should obtain a consensus for the interpretation of CT angiography to use it extensively as a complementary exam for BD.
Authors: Dolores Escudero; Jesús Otero; Lara Marqués; Diego Parra; José Antonio Gonzalo; Guillermo M Albaiceta; Luis Cofiño; Armando Blanco; Pedro Vega; Eduardo Murias; Angela Meilan; Ricardo López Roger; Francisco Taboada Journal: Neurocrit Care Date: 2009-06-30 Impact factor: 3.210
Authors: Stefan Welschehold; Stephan Boor; Katharina Reuland; Frank Thömke; Thomas Kerz; André Reuland; Christian Beyer; Martin Gartenschläger; Wolfgang Wagner; Alf Giese; Wibke Müller-Forell Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2012-09-28 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Marcin Sawicki; R Bohatyrewicz; K Safranow; A Walecka; J Walecki; O Rowinski; J Solek-Pastuszka; Z Czajkowski; M Guzinski; M Burzynska; J Wojczal Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2014-05-07 Impact factor: 2.804