This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Anatomy and physiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The diagnosis of brainstem death is made when the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) is irreversibly damaged such that awareness/consciousness may never be attained.

It must be clearly demonstrated that in the absence of features that may mask ones clinical signs, the ARAS is not functioning and will not regain function. This state may be inferred from the functional status of the cranial nerve brainstem nuclei which are in intimate anatomical asociation with the ARAS.

The presence of an anatomical lesion and to some degree its irreversibility, are determined by CT or MRI scan.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.