Decompressive craniectomy may cause diagnostic challenges to assess brain death by computed tomography angiography

Minerva Anestesiol. 2014 Jan;80(1):113-8. Epub 2013 May 23.

Abstract

According to Italian legislation to diagnose brain death (BD) after the initial documentation of the clinical signs, repetition of clinical testing and confirmation of the loss of bioelectrical activity of the brain (EEG) is required. However, when EEG is unreliable it is necessary to demonstrate cerebral circulatory arrest (CCA). Accepted imaging techniques to demonstrate CCA include: cerebral angiography, cerebral scintigraphy, transcranial Doppler (TCD) and computed tomography angiography (CTA). This latter technique, due to its large availability, low invasivity and easy and fast acquisition is widely used over the country. Nevertheless its diagnostic reliability is affected by some limitations in patients with decompressive craniectomy. Here we report two cases of brain injury with clinical signs of BD and at the same time, opacification of intracranial arteries on CTA and a pattern consistent with flow arrest on the corresponding insonable arteries on TCD. The discrepancy between CTA and TCD results points out a methodology limitation that could be overcome by updating Italian legislation according to other European Countries legislation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Adult
  • Artifacts*
  • Brain Death / diagnosis*
  • Brain Death / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Death / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Brain Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Injuries / surgery
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods*
  • Cerebral Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Decompressive Craniectomy / adverse effects*
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Hematoma, Subdural / etiology
  • Hematoma, Subdural / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypotension / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Hypotension / etiology*
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial