First report of transiently reversible brain death after induced hypothermia (Crit Care Med)

Webb and Samuels (Emory neuro-intensivists) report on a brain-injured patient who, after induced hypothermia and rewarming, had absent brainstem function and a confirmatory apnea test. However, in the O.R. for organ donation 24 hours later, brainstem function transiently returned and the surgery had to be aborted. They urge caution to the rest of us in declaring brain death after induced hypothermia. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1538-1542.

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