brain death protocol
Standardized clinical examination procedure to determine irreversible cessation of all brain function.
Full Definition
A brain death protocol is a systematic clinical assessment designed to establish the irreversible cessation of all brain functions, including brainstem reflexes. The protocol typically includes prerequisites such as establishing the cause of coma, ensuring absence of confounding factors like hypothermia or drugs, and confirming normal physiological parameters. The clinical examination tests for absence of brainstem reflexes, motor responses, and spontaneous respiration through an apnea test. Many institutions require two independent examinations separated by a specific time interval. Some protocols may include ancillary tests such as cerebral blood flow studies or electroencephalography when clinical examination cannot be completed reliably.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'brain-death' when used as a compound modifier.
In Context
- "The attending neurologist initiated the hospital's brain death protocol following the patient's catastrophic brainstem injury." — clinical documentation
- "Our institution's brain death protocol requires two separate examinations twelve hours apart." — policy document