The use of cerebral computed tomographic angiography as an ancillary investigation to support a clinical diagnosis of death using neurological criteria: a consensus guideline

Thomas, E. O.; Manara, A.; Dineen, R. A.; Mortimer, A.; Aziz, O.; Dean, P.; Elliott, P.; Summers, D. M.; Whitfield, P. C.; Hutchinson, P. J.; Gardiner, D.

doi:10.1111/anae.15950

Authors

E. O. Thomas

A. Manara

ROBERT DINEEN rob.dineen@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Neuroradiology

A. Mortimer

O. Aziz

P. Dean

P. Elliott

D. M. Summers

P. C. Whitfield

P. J. Hutchinson

D. Gardiner

Abstract

This multidisciplinary consensus statement was produced following a recommendation by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine to develop a UK guideline for ancillary investigation, when one is required, to support the diagnosis of death using neurological criteria. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed the literature and UK practice in the diagnosis of death using neurological criteria and recommended cerebral CT angiography as the ancillary investigation of choice when death cannot be confirmed by clinical criteria alone. Cerebral CT angiography has been shown to have 100% specificity in supporting a diagnosis of death using neurological criteria and is an investigation available in all acute hospitals in the UK. A standardised technique for performing the investigation is described alongside a reporting template. The panel were unable to make recommendations for ancillary testing in children or patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Citation

Thomas, E. O., Manara, A., Dineen, R. A., Mortimer, A., Aziz, O., Dean, P., …Gardiner, D. (2023). The use of cerebral computed tomographic angiography as an ancillary investigation to support a clinical diagnosis of death using neurological criteria: a consensus guideline. Anaesthesia, 78(3), 330-336. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.15950

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Nov 22, 2022
Online Publication Date	Jan 29, 2023
Publication Date	2023-03
Deposit Date	Feb 2, 2023
Publicly Available Date	Jan 30, 2024
Journal	Anaesthesia
Print ISSN	0003-2409
Electronic ISSN	1365-2044
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	78
Issue	3
Pages	330-336
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.15950
Keywords	Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Public URL	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/16797580
Publisher URL	https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.15950