Increasing the Sensitivity of Brain Death Confirmation Using the Combination of Auditory and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
Abstract
Aim: Since 2002, evoked potentials (EP) can be used to confirm brain death (BD) in Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to show an improvement in reliability of the diagnosis of brain death (BD) using serial recordings and a combination of auditory brain stem potentials (BAEPs) and median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs).
Methods: From 2002 to 2012, 41 patients had BAEP and SEP performed to confirm BD at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Pilsen. Results: There was a sensitivity of 37% at the first BEAPs registration to confirm BD.
Serial BAEP recordings increased BD confirmation to 100%. BAEPs and SEPs combination increased sensitivity of BD confirmation to 75%.
Sensitivity was 70% for the first recording SEP and 100% for serial recordings to confirm BD. Conclusion: Combined use of BAEPs and SEPs and serial recordings can improve BD confirmation sensitivity in all clinically BD patients.