This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Brainstem death

Authoring team

Brainstem death is the point at which the brain has ceased to be capable of maintaining life. It is a concept which has developed from the advent of improved intensive care facilities and better resuscitation techniques.

Once reached, the patient may be considered for organ donation after consultation with the relatives.

Stages in the certifying of brainstem death include:

  • ensure certain pre-conditions - relating to the patient and to the staff involved
  • perform the diagnostic tests - two sets, usually within 24 hours depending upon the primary pathology and the course of the disease
  • record results - by hand and in the notes to avoid possible tampering

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed 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.