Increasing the Sensitivity of Brain Death Confirmation Using the Combination of Auditory and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials

Czech version

Authors: I. Holečková ^1,2; J. Valeš ²; P. Veselá ²; D. Štěpánek ²; D. Hasman ³; J. Mraček ^1,2; P. Lavička ^1,2; A. Smažinková ²; V. Přibáň ^1,2
Authors‘ workplace: LF UK v Plzni ¹; Neurochirurgické oddělení, FN Plzeň ²; Chirurgická klinika LF UK a FN Plzeň ³
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2014; 77/110(6): 698-703
Category: Original Paper

Tato práce byla podpořena grantem GAČR P407-12-1525 a Programem rozvoje vědních oborů Univerzity Karlovy (projekt P36).

Overview

Aim:
Since 2002, evoked potentials (EP) can be used to confirm brain death (BD) in Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to show an improvement in reliability of the diagnosis of brain death (BD) using serial recordings and a combination of auditory brain stem potentials (BAEPs) and median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs).

Methods:
From 2002 to 2012, 41 patients had BAEP and SEP performed to confirm BD at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Pilsen.

Results:
There was a sensitivity of 37% at the first BEAPs registration to confirm BD. Serial BAEP recordings increased BD confirmation to 100%. BAEPs and SEPs combination increased sensitivity of BD confirmation to 75%. Sensitivity was 70% for the first recording SEP and 100% for serial recordings to confirm BD. Conclusion: Combined use of BAEPs and SEPs and serial recordings can improve BD confirmation sensitivity in all clinically BD patients.

Key words:
brain death – brain stem auditory evoked potentials – somatosensory evoked potentials

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

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