Brain Death

Brain Death is a new, ambitious, and thoroughly researched work that draws heavily upon original research data but also is interspersed throughout with practical information for the practicing neurologist, neurointensivist, neurosurgeon, anesthesiologist, trauma surgeon and organ procurement organizations.

The core of the text combines the theory and practice of brain death determination, history, and the development of clinical criteria of what brain death is. With incredible clarity, the author describes in the first five chapters the complex neurological evaluations and all the pitfalls that can be experienced: cultural beliefs, bioethical problems, discussions with family members, and many of the issues associated with organ procurement.

Brain Death also includes a separate chapter that comprises 25 of the most commonly encountered problems in evaluating the brain dead patient and their corresponding answers, as well as a pocket card to assist with the documentation of brain death at the bedside.

Eelco F. M. Wijdicks is Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Chair of the Division of Critical Care Neurology, and Consultant, Neurological Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.