Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Study of Experimental Organ Donation Models for Lung Transplantation
Published on: March 15, 2024
The apnea test for brain death determination: an alternative approach
Michael D Sharpe1, G Bryan Young, Chris Harris
1Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre-University Campus, London, Ontario, Canada. michael.sharpe@lhsc.on.ca
Introduction:
Problems associated with the standard apnea test relate to overshooting or undershooting the target PaCO2, potentially compromising the viability of organs for transplantation or invalidating the test.
Materials And Methods:
In 60 adult patients, the authors used an alternative method using exogenously administered CO2 and measurement of end-tidal CO2.
Results:
All patients achieved an adequate respiratory stimulus (mean increase in PaCO2 was 28+/-3 mmHg, postapnea test pH was 7.20+/-.02). There was a clinically insignificant reduction in arterial blood pressure during testing, but no other complications occurred. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between the predicted PaCO2 (predicted from the end-tidal CO2) and measured PaCO2 (64+/-9 versus 67+/-9; r=.75169, p<0.0001).
Conclusion:
Exogenously administered CO2 as an alternative method for the standard apnea test was a reliable and safe method, with minimal complications that offers several advantages over the standard method.
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