engleski

Feasibility of optic nerve sheath ultrasonography in brain death

Evaluation of optic nerve sheath by means of optic nerve ultrasonography (ONUS) is a reliable tool for assessment of patients with increased intracranial pressure. The aim of this study was to ascertain the usefulness of optic nerve sheath ultrasonography in patients with brain death. Ten patients with brain death as a result of traumatic or non-traumatic causes were evaluated by ONUS. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) was measured with a 12 MHz linear ultrasound probe. The probe was adjusted to give a suitable angle for displaying the entry of the optic nerve into the globe, at the depth of 3 mm behind the globe. For each optic nerve four measurements were made, twice in transverse and twice in the sagittal plane, by rotating the probe clockwise. Mean ONSD for brain death patients were compared with mean ONSD of 17 healthy controls. Ten individuals (7 males) with confirmed brain death were evaluated. In brain death patients mean ONSD was 0.72+0.06 cm on the transverse plane and 0.72+0.05 cm on the sagittal plane. In controls mean ONSD was 0.51+0.05 cm on the transverse plane and 0.54+0.06 cm on the sagittal plane. Mean ONSD in brain death was 0.72+0.05cm and 0.53+0.06 cm in controls (p<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis separated brain dead patients from controls with a sensitivity and a specificity of 97.4%. Measurements of ONSD may be useful in distinguishing brain dead persons from healthy controls.

intracranial pressure ; optic nerve sheath diameter ; ultrasonography ; brain death

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