Significance of Brain CT Angiography in Determination of Brain Death in a Patient with Barbiturate Coma Therapy after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 25(3); 2007 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2007;25(3): 372-376.

지주막하 출혈 후 바비튜레이트 혼수 치료를 시행한 환자의 뇌사 판정에서의 뇌 전산화 단층 조영술의 의의

김대영, 김수경 정기영a 김성태b 정진상 서대원

성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 신경과, 영상의학과b, 고려대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실a

Significance of Brain CT Angiography in Determination of Brain Death in a Patient with Barbiturate Coma Therapy after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Daeyoung Kim

Departments of Neurology and Radiologyb, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicinea, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

In determination of brain death, brain CT angiography (CTA) can be used as a new ancillary test to assist EEG which is the current gold standard. We report a patient with barbiturate coma therapy whose CTA showed weak filling of the internal carotid artery and its branches when his EEG demonstrated regional beta activities in the corresponding area, which finally disappeared. Combined use of CTA and serial EEGs would be helpful as brain death testing in a patient with barbiturate coma therapy. KeyWords:CT angiography, Brain death, Pentobarbital