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Madeleine Marie Grigg-Damberger, MD; Gastone G. Celesia, MD; Michael A. Kelly, MD
Department of Neurology Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine Maywood, IL 60153

Arch Neurol. 1989;46(6):604.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In Reply.

—We were encouraged by the discussion created by our article¹ on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity following brain death. Drs Lang, Ellis, Belsh, De Giorgio, and Shewmon expressed some concern regarding our methodology. All patients in our study had identifiable irreversible primary damage to their central nervous system as the cause of their clinical state. Drug intoxication, including the single case of acetaminophen poisoning, which resulted in respiratory arrest and hypothermia, had been excluded.

Formal apnea testing was documented in the charts of 36 (64% ) of 56 patients. Formal apnea testing consisted of preoxygenation with 100% oxygen for 10 minutes, then disconnection from the respirator for a period of 10 minutes, while 6 to 10 L/min of oxygen was administered via an intratracheal catheter. Arterial blood gas studies were performed to confirm that a Paco₂ value of greater than 60 mm Hg had been reached. Eight of these patients had disconnection . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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