Author/Editor		Trontelj, J
Title		Možganska smrt: polemika se nadaljuje
Translated title		Brain death: the debate continues
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 61, št. 1
Publication year		1992
Volume		str. 37-42
Language		slo
Abstract		Background: The article reviews some of the recently debated issues in diagnosing brain death. Even among professionals who are responsible for diagnosis in braindead patients and who work in intensive care and on transplantation teams there is a disturbing confusion regarding concepts uf death. This is at least partly due to the inconsistency of the currently accepted concept of death as the irreversible loss of the functions uf the entire brain. Survey and conclusions: The author argues against the notion that the death of the brain stem involves brain death an in favour of the "whole-brain death" concept. He discusses the problem of the surviving hemispheres above the dead stem. He stresses the necessity of recognizing different deefferentation states and describes the role of electroencephalography and other supportive methods for recognizing them. Anencephalia and a persistent vegetative state do not meet the criteria of brain death; they count us a justified reason for discontinuing life-supporting measures but by no means as a reason for taking organs for transplantation. The author proposes some modifications in the current Slovene protocol for ascertaining brain death.
Descriptors		BRAIN DEATH UNCONSCIOUSNESS BRAIN STEM ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY EVOKED POTENTIALS