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brain death

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.10 sec.
death (deth) the cessation of life; permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions.
activation-induced cell death  (AICD) recognition and deletion of T lymphocytes that have been induced to proliferate by receptor-mediated activation, preventing their overgrowth.
black death  bubonic plague.
brain death  irreversible coma; irreversible brain damage as manifested by absolute unresponsiveness to all stimuli, absence of all spontaneous muscle activity, and an isoelectric electroencephalogram for 30 minutes, all in the absence of hypothermia or intoxication by central nervous system depressants.
cot death , crib death sudden infant death syndrome.
programmed cell death  the theory that particular cells are programmed to die at specific sites and at specific stages of development.
somatic death  cessation of all vital cellular activity.

brain death
n.
Irreversible brain damage and loss of brain function, as evidenced by cessation of breathing and other vital reflexes, unresponsiveness to stimuli, absence of muscle activity, and a flat electroencephalogram for a specific length of time. Also called cerebral death.

brain-dead adj.

brain death
Etymology: AS, bragen + death
an irreversible form of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of brain function while the heart continues to beat. The legal definition of this condition varies from state to state. The usual clinical criteria for brain death include the absence of reflex activity, movements, and spontaneous respiration requiring mechanical ventilation or life support to continue any cardiac function. The pupils are dilated and fixed. Because hypothermia, anesthesia, poisoning, or drug intoxication may cause deep physiologic depression that resembles brain death these parameters must be within normal limits prior to testing. Diagnosis of brain death may require evaluating and demonstrating that electrical activity of the brain is absent on two electroencephalograms performed 12 to 24 hours apart. Brain death can be confirmed with electroencephalograms showing a complete lack of electrical activity (a flat line) or vascular perfusion studies showing a lack of blood flow to the brain. Also called irreversible coma. Compare coma, sleep, stupor.

brain death,
n an irreversible form of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of brain function while the heart continues to beat.

brain death
End of life The irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem. See Appropriate period of observation, Attending physician, Corroborating physician, Harvard criteria, Multiorgan donation
Harvard criteria for brain death
  • Unreceptivity and unresponsiveness
  • No movement or breathing
  • No reflexes
  • Flat electroencephalogram (confirmatory)
In addition, the following must be present
  • Body temperature ≥ to 32º C
  • Absence of CNS depressants
  • .


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Until now, the transplant option has been available after the brain death of a patient.
After the certification of brain death and consent for organ donation, nursing care of a HBD in ICU focuses on maintaining patient comfort, as well as ventilatory and haemodynamic stability to ensure optimum organ perfusion.
Concluding the volume, Margaret Lock discusses biomedicine and morality with a moving essay on brain death, terminal care and organ transplants.
 
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