Podcast 052 – Organ Donation and Brain Death in the ED
Organ Donation in the Emergency Department Though it may not seem as important as some of the things we do in ED Critical Care, managing the potential organ donor can lead to many lives saved. In this episode I interview Isaac Tawil, an Emergency Intensivist of University of New Mexico Health Sciences and associate medical director of New Mexico Organ Donor Services. Here are the current standards for determining brain death Wijdicks et al. Evidence-based guideline update: Determining Brain Death in Adults Brain Death Checklist brain death statement Tips on the Exam from Wijdicks Crit Care 2020;24:648 Mesencephalon Need only test pupil response to high-intensity flashlight. Pupils are mid-position (4-6 mm) Use a Magnifying Glass if you don't have a pupilometer Pons Corneals (cotton swab or water) Oculocephalic-Turn from middle to the side 90 degrees on both sides. Cold calorics-30 mls of ice water. Normal response is slow deviation of eyes towards syringe Pain Response to nailbeds, supraorbital Medulla Gag reflex with yankeur No cough during deep suctioning Checklist from the Paper What to Exclude J Crit Care 2019;53:212 Here is a video of Dr. Tawil demonstrating the brain death exam EMCrit Site Links IBCC Brain Death Now on to the Podcast...
