Variability in brain death determination practices in children

Article Abstract:

Clinical practices used to determine brain death in children appear to vary. Researchers reviewed the medical records of 248 children who died in 16 pediatric intensive care units. Of these, 37% were brain dead. Twelve percent of brain dead patients had two clinical examinations and two apnea tests as recommended in the Guidelines for the Determination of Brain Death. Twenty-five percent of the patients did not have apnea tests and apnea testing procedures were inappropriate in 22% of patients. Brain death confirmatory tests were not performed in 13% of the patients younger than one year of age, contrary to guideline recommendations. Thirty-two percent of patients became organ donors. Medical examiners' refusal, parental refusal, and medical illness were the major reasons why organs were not removed for subsequent transplant.

Evaluation, Pediatric intensive care, Brain death

---

Sudden traumatic death in children

Article Abstract:

Sudden traumatic death in children presents an array of diverse challenges to doctors, providing care for the children and in communicating with the families, as well as in self-care and support of the clinical team. Optimal practice requires calm and proficient approach to the medical demands of the clinical case and interdisciplinary teamwork, while at the same time, responding well to the relational demands of an unfolding human tragedy.

United States, Prognosis, Sudden death

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Seasonality in sudden infant death syndrome. Splanchnic transplantation: an approach to the infant dependent on parenteral nutrition who develops irreversible liver disease
• Abstracts: An unusual family cancer syndrome manifested in young siblings. Hairy cell leukemia in two siblings: a human leukocyte antigen-linked disease?
• Abstracts: Dhat syndrome: a useful diagnostic entity in Indian culture
• Abstracts: Temporary Munchausen syndrome. Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy
• Abstracts: Reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: sense or speculation? part 2 Regulation of monocyte to macrophage differentiation by antiglucocorticoids and antioxidants

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.