Table 2 The objective findings that respondents considered would not be compatible with brain death
Finding | This would not be compatible with brain death (n = 192) [n (%; 95% confidence interval)] | Actual percentage of clinically diagnosed brain death cases with this finding [15, 16] |
|---|---|---|
Objective test | Â | Â |
Some EEG activity | 135 (70%; 63-76%)) | > 20% |
Some evoked potential activity | 107 (56%; 49-63%) | > 5% |
Some cerebral blood flow | 99 (52%; 45-59%) | > 5-40% |
Some pituitary hormones | 17 (9%; 6-14%) | > 50% |
Normal brainstem pathology | 36 (19%; 14-25%) | > 10-40% |
None of the above | 34 (18%; 13-24%) | Unknown |
Pathology finding | Â | Â |
Brainstem minimal damage | 81 (42%; 35-49%) | > 5-40% |
Cerebral cortex minimal damage | 63 (33%; 27-40%) | > 5-40% |
Damage but not respirator brain | 27 (14%; 10-20%) | > 5-40% |
Widespread necrosis | 1 (1%; 0-3%) | > 50% |
None of the above | 93 (48%; 41-55%) | Unknown |