Required criteria to assess the opening of a brain death statement in patients submitted to brain death diagnosis and characterizing the profile of potential donors in a Hospital in São Paulo

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the reliability of the criteria to start the brain death protocol, as stated by the Federal Council of Medicine (FCM) Resolution 1.480/97. To characterize the profiling of potential donors. Method: This is a retrospective study with a quantitative approach, performed in a large municipal hospital in the Southern region of the city of São Paulo. Medical records from patients with diagnostic of brain death along January 1 to June 30, 2013 were selected. The study was approved by the Ethics in Research committee CAAE 20387913.0.0000.5452. Results: 16 patients had the brain death diagnosis. The time between clinical trials ranged from 6 to 30 hours. No patient had Average Arterial Pressure <60 mmHg. The sedatives used in patients were: Fentanyl, Midazolam and Thiopental, and in every protocol the suspension time of those drugs for the opening were respected. In only one protocol the potential body temperature of the donor was <35^oC, being in both clinical examination 34.5^oC and 33.3^oC, respectively. As to theaccomplishment of the apnea test, it was utilized the post-apnea arterial blood gas analysis in 13 cases in the first clinical examination, and 14 cases in the second examination; in the remaining cases, it was performed an observational assessment, meaning the direct observation of the chest as to the absence of respiratory movements. There was family consent in 11 cases, and 8 became effective donors. Conclusion: In every brain death protocol, the criteria required to open it followed the resolution No. 1.480/97of the Federal Council of Medicine.