Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Jun 1999
ReviewEuropean brain death codes: a comparison of national guidelines.
The majority of European countries have published recommendations for the diagnosis of brain death as a necessary prerequisite for organ donation. The concept of brain death as defining the death of the individual is accepted in all European countries; however, the guidelines for determining the total and irreversible loss of all brain functions differ somewhat in the various countries. While the clinical examination and documentation of the clinical signs of brain death are very uniform, there are significant differences in the guidelines for using technical confirmatory tests to corroborate the clinical signs. ⋯ Brain scintigraphy can confirm the loss of isotope uptake into the brain. Doppler sonography also demonstrates cessation of brain perfusion. Cerebral panangiography may also be used to demonstrate the loss of brain perfusion but is less desirable since it might endanger the patient.