Brain Death

Abstract

Brain Death as Extensive Brain NecrosisThe studies quoted in the first part of this review used as their basic concept of brain death a state of irreversible brain damage that preceded inevitable cardiac arrest. They therefore tried to justify the diagnosis of brain death in a given case by establishing that cardiovascular collapse would always occur within a certain period, making clinical recovery impossible. It can be appreciated that two difficulties might arise. The first is deciding what "imminent" might be in practical terms: whether days, weeks or months. The Collaborative Study used a three-month . . .