Topic: Brain Death
Subject: Medicine
A 57-year-old white male with coronary artery disease suffered a cardiac arrest while jogging 10 days ago. He was resuscitated after 45 minutes but has remained unresponsive and on a ventilator since then.
Which one of the following is required to diagnose brain death in this patient?

Correct Answer : D.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the most well-validated tests for confirming brain death. The presence of hypothermia will confound any attempt to determine brain death; the patient must be warm to ensure the diagnosis. The mechanical ventilator may give false readings and must be discontinued to get a real picture of the patients ability to breathe. Spontaneous body movements can occur even hours after actual brain death. Corneal reflexes never occur after death.