Presentation
Prolonged cardiorespiratory arrest caused by respiratory insufficiency due to foreign body aspiration.
Patient Data
Extensive diffuse cerebral edema with effacement of gyri, compressed cisterns, and ventricles.
Loss of differentiation between white and gray matter
Cerebellum showing a density greater than the cerebral hemispheres.
Tonsilar herniation.
Case Discussion
The three essential findings in brain death are coma, absence of brainstem reflexes, and apnea. Legal requirements for its diagnosis vary by country.
Primarily the diagnosis is clinical but images of the brain can be used to assess signs that indicate the absence of cerebral circulation.
Non-contrast-enhanced CT of the head is useful for assessing the severity of brain injury in the suspicion of brain death.
The diagnosis of this case was made by clinical findings and intracerebral arteriography. The non-contrast CT was made for evaluating possible reversible causes of coma and showed signs of extensive anoxic encephalopathy.