Brain death

Abstract

Brain death refers to the irreversible cessation of brain function and is usually clinically determined. Brain death is a legal definition that incorporates different medical parameters in different locations. The three essential findings are coma, absence of brainstem reflexes, and apnea. However, diagnostic criteria of brain death vary widely among countries. In some countries, imaging studies are exclusively used as ancillary tools, while in other countries they must be obtained to determine the diagnosis of brain death.