[Brain death and organ circulation]

Onset of brain death is accompanied by dramatic circulatory and metabolic reactions. The following period is marked by hypothermia and hypotension. Little is known about the fate of organs under these circumstances. Circulation, ultrastructure and biochemical parameters of the liver were investigated in dogs and pigs by means of a brain death model. During the occurrence of brain death, liver cell hypoxia could be observed, though flow rates in the portal vein and hepatic artery increased remarkably. After brain death has occurred, metabolic and ultrastructural signs of hypoxia diminish while the liver flow is reduced to 53% of the recordings before cerebral damage.