Diagnosis of brain death and management of brain dead organ donor

Care of a severe brain injury is one of the most daunting tasks in critical care and the importance of golden hour and quick treatment cannot be overemphasized while dealing with such patients. On many occasions the severity of injury or the unfortunate incident of not getting timely help may see many a patient evolve to the condition of brain death. It is important to understand that brain death for all practical reasons is death and there is futility of medical science in the treatment of this condition which is a prerequisite for organ donation and transplantation. Certification of brain death and thus facilitation of organ donation results in many patients getting a new lease of life. This article provides a concise but complete review of the diagnosis of brain death and the management of a brain death organ donor. Copyright (C) 2014, Neurotrauma Society of India. All rights reserved.