Retrospective Evaluation of the Cases Diagnosed with Brain Death in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit

Authors : Alper TABANLI, Halide Hande ŞAHİNKAYA

Pages : 9-13

Doi:10.58961/hmj.1271391

View : 32 | Download : 48

Publication Date : 2023-08-21

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Introduction: Diagnosis and follow-up of brain death cases in intensive care units are vital in terms of donor and organ transplantation. This study was conducted to retrospectively evaluate the cases diagnosed with brain death in the neurosurgery intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: After the approval of the local ethics committee was obtained, patients who had been diagnosed with brain death between May 2011 and May 2021 in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit of Health Sciences University Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Of 19 patients diagnosed with brain death, 10 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(52.6%); were male, 9 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(47.4%); were female, and the mean age was 55.78 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30-74); years. Diagnosis at admission included intracranial hemorrhage insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(52.6%);, traumatic brain injury insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(36.8%);, brain tumor insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.2%);, and hydrocephalus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.2%);. Accordingly, diagnostic procedures had been initiated. The diagnosis had been made via an apnea test and neurological examination in 15 of the cases. As the apnea test could not be performed in two cases, additional tests had been performed to support the diagnosis. The rate of cases becoming a donor was 15.7%. Conclusions: In this study, we found that the proportion of patients who had been diagnosed with brain death and had become a donor in the neurosurgery intensive care unit was low. It should be kept in mind that patients with pathologies, such as head trauma, cerebrovascular events, and poor prognosis, may be potential donors and that the necessary examinations and tests for the diagnosis should be initiated without delay.
Keywords : apne testi, beyin ölümü, organ bağışı, yoğun bakım