Title |
Spinal reflexes in brain death
|
---|---|
Published in |
Acta Neurologica Belgica, March 2014
|
DOI | 10.1007/s13760-014-0284-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Yesim Beckmann, Yeliz Çiftçi, Tülay Kurt İncesu, Yaprak Seçil, Galip Akhan |
Abstract |
Spontaneous and reflex movements have been described in brain death and these unusual movements might cause uncertainties in diagnosis. In this study we evaluated the presence of spinal reflexes in patients who fulfilled the criteria for brain death. Thirty-two (22 %) of 144 patients presented unexpected motor movements spontaneously or during examinations. These patients exhibited the following signs: undulating toe, increased deep tendon reflexes, plantar responses, Lazarus sign, flexion-withdrawal reflex, facial myokymia, neck-arm flexion, finger jerks and fasciculations. In comparison, there were no significant differences in age, sex, etiology of brain death and hemodynamic laboratory findings in patients with and without reflex motor movement. Spinal reflexes should be well recognized by physicians and it should be born in mind that brain death can be determined in the presence of spinal reflexes. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
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Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 30 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Postgraduate | 7 | 23% |
Other | 5 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 10% |
Student > Master | 3 | 10% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 2 | 7% |
Other | 5 | 17% |
Unknown | 5 | 17% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 17 | 57% |
Neuroscience | 3 | 10% |
Psychology | 1 | 3% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 1 | 3% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 3% |
Other | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 6 | 20% |