Brain death in the newborn.

It is likely that extension of the current Task Force guidelines for the determination of brain death can include the preterm infant greater than 32 weeks' gestation and the term infant. Brain death in this age group can be ascertained solely on a clinical basis; an observation period of at least three days in the preterm infant and two days in the term infant are necessary. Neurodiagnostic testing demonstrating ECS, coupled with absence of radionuclide uptake by dynamic brain scanning, could potentially shorten these periods of observation to 24 hours.