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The ocular microtremor record as a potential procedure for establishing brain death
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|March 1, 1977
Summary
Ocular microtremor, a normal eye movement, is absent in brain death. This eye tracking can help monitor brain stem function and determine brain death.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Ocular microtremor (OMT) is a normal physiological phenomenon characterized by continuous, low-amplitude, high-frequency oscillations of the eye.
- Understanding OMT's characteristics is crucial for interpreting its clinical significance.
Observation:
- Abnormal OMT recordings are observed in unconscious patients.
- A complete absence of OMT was noted in six patients with clinical signs of brain death shortly before death.
Findings:
- Six patients exhibiting brain death criteria demonstrated a complete cessation of ocular microtremor.
- One patient with a barbiturate overdose showed a significantly diminished OMT, which normalized with clinical improvement, correlating with brain stem function.
Implications:
- Ocular microtremor recording shows potential as a non-invasive tool for assessing brain stem viability.
- This technique could serve as an objective monitor for brain death determination.