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Gary W. Lemmon, MD; Randall W. Franz, MD; Nancy Roy, RVT; Mary C. McCarthy, MD; James B. Peoples, MD

Arch Surg. 1995;130(5):517-520.

Abstract
Objective
To determine if color flow duplex scanning (CFDS) can be used for rapid confirmation of presumed brain death.

Design
Pilot cohort study comparison of CFDS with radionuclide cerebral scanning (RCS) as the criterion standard.

Setting
Community-based level I trauma center intensive care unit.

Patients
Twenty-four patients who satisfied criteria for presumed brain death.

Main Outcome Measure
Confirmation of presumed brain death.

Results
CFDS correctly identified 16 of 24 patients as brain dead, confirmed by RCS. Eight patients with brain flow on RCS were also correctly identified by CFDS. Only two of 24 patients survived their severe injuries.

Conclusions
CFDS provides a uniform, cost-effective diagnostic tool for rapid confirmation of clinical brain death with 100% accuracy. Its use should complement RCS, given its rapid interpretation, portability, and economical assessment of presumed brain death.

(Arch Surg. 1995;130:517-520)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery, Wright State University School of Medicine (Drs Lemmon, Franz, McCarthy, and Peoples), and the Neurovascular Laboratory, Miami Valley Hospital (Ms Roy), Dayton, Ohio.

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