Abstract
Background and purpose: Oscillating flow or systolic spikes are typical Doppler-sonographic
flow signals found in the presence of cerebral circulatory arrest, which if irreversible,
results in brain death. The Neurosonology Research Group (NSRG) of the World Federation
of Neurology (WFN) created a Task Force Group in order to evaluate the role of Doppler-sonography
as a confirmatory test for determining brain death. Methods: The available evidence
from the literature has been reviewed and discussed by a group of experts, the members
of the Task Force Group on cerebral death of the NSRG. Results and conclusions: Extra-
and intracranial Doppler-sonography is a useful confirmatory test to establish irreversibility
of cerebral circulatory arrest as optional part of a brain death protocol. Doppler-sonography
is of special value when the therapeutic use of sedative drugs renders electroencephalography
unreliable. Doppler-sonographic criteria are defined and guidelines for the use of
Doppler-sonography in this setting are presented.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 16,
1998
Received in revised form:
April 16,
1998
Received:
March 10,
1997
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
