Neurology . Brain death evaluation during the pandemic

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Neurology


. 2020 Jul 30;10.1212/WNL.0000000000010544.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010544. Online ahead of print.
Brain death evaluation during the pandemic


Ibrahim Migdady ¹ , Alexander Rae-Grant ² , David M Greer ³



Affiliations

• PMID: 32732294
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010544

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may pose unique challenges to clinicians attempting to diagnose brain death in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2. Among these challenges is the risk of aerosol generation during the traditional apnea testing using the insufflation technique, in addition to the risk of complications due to SARS-CoV-2-related lung disease. In this article, we discuss these challenges and provide further guidance to minimize such risks in order to ensure safety of health care professionals and other patients. We also emphasize the importance of maintaining the standards of brain death determination in this critical time.