• Claire N Shappell, Jeffrey I Frank, Khalil Husari, Matthew Sanchez, Fernando Goldenberg, and Agnieszka Ardelt.
• From the Pritzker School of Medicine (C.N.S., M.S.), University of Chicago; and Department of Neurology (J.I.F., K.H., F.G., A.A.), University of Chicago Medicine, IL.
• Neurology. 2013 Dec 3;81(23):2009-14.

ObjectiveTo characterize the present state of brain death (BD) determination in actual practice relative to contemporary American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guidelines.MethodsWe reviewed the charts of all adult (16 years and older) BD organ donors during 2011 from 68 heterogeneous hospitals in the Midwest United States. Data were collected across 5 categories: guideline performance, preclinical testing, clinical examination, apnea testing, and use of ancillary tests. Practice within categories and overall adherence to AAN guidelines were assessed.ResultsTwo hundred twenty-six BD organ donors were included. Practice exceeded recommendations in guideline performance but varied widely and deviated from AAN guidelines in all other categories. One hundred two (45.1%) had complete documentation of brainstem areflexia and absent motor response. One hundred sixty-six (73.5%) had completed apnea testing. Of the 60 without completed apnea testing, 56 (93.3%) had ancillary tests consistent with BD. Overall, 101 (44.7%) strictly and 84 (37.2%) loosely adhered to contemporary AAN guidelines.ConclusionsThere is wide variability in the documentation of BD determination, likely reflecting similar variability in practice. This is a call for improved documentation, better uniformity of policies, and comprehensive and strategically targeted educational initiatives to ensure consistently contemporary approaches to BD determination in every patient.

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