BACKGROUND: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) has been used as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of brain death (BD), but may be inaccurate in patients with a skull defect or extraventricular drain (EVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We report three cases of patients with a skull defect or EVD in whom TCD supported a diagnosis of BD but in which the clinical examination later refuted the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: We caution against the use of TCD to confirm the diagnosis of BD in the presence of a skull defect or EVD.
BACKGROUND: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) has been used as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of brain death (BD), but may be inaccurate in patients with a skull defect or extraventricular drain (EVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We report three cases of patients with a skull defect or EVD in whom TCD supported a diagnosis of BD but in which the clinical examination later refuted the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: We caution against the use of TCD to confirm the diagnosis of BD in the presence of a skull defect or EVD.
Authors: Louisa M Monteiro; Casper W Bollen; Alexander C van Huffelen; Rob G A Ackerstaff; Nicolaas J G Jansen; Adrianus J van Vught Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2006-09-21 Impact factor: 17.440
Authors: M A Sloan; A V Alexandrov; C H Tegeler; M P Spencer; L R Caplan; E Feldmann; L R Wechsler; D W Newell; C R Gomez; V L Babikian; D Lefkowitz; R S Goldman; C Armon; C Y Hsu; D S Goodin Journal: Neurology Date: 2004-05-11 Impact factor: 9.910