Brain death: a challenging diagnosis in trauma patients

Brain death is a catastrophic consequence of trauma, and diagnosing it can be a challenging for physicians because it presents in numerous ways. Since existing recommendations are not applicable to all hospitals because of the requirement of special equipment and highly-trained personnel, a committee of health care professionals at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston decided to review the available literature and create a new set of protocols regarding brain death. This article summarizes the findings of the committee and provides recommendations for physicians working with trauma patients.