MUERTE ENCEFÁLICA EN PACIENTES NEUROCRÍTICOS. UNIDAD DE CUIDADOS INTENSIVOS. HOSPITAL LUIS VERNAZA. 2016-2018.

Abstract

Brain death constitutes a medical entity accepted by the scientific community, state legislations and the main religions of the world. It is defined as the irreversible cessation of all neurological functions, including those of the brainstem. Although our country has a brain death guide, there are few data or studies on the characteristics of this population, its management, complications and the likelihood of being effective donors. Objective: The main objective is to establish the epidemiological profile of brain death in neurocritical patients of the intensive care service of the Hospital Luis Vernaza 2016-2018. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with patients admitted to the critical area of the Hospital "Luis Vernaza" between April 1, 2016 and April 30, 2018. The population studied was 44 patients diagnosed with brain death. with established inclusion criteria. The variables to be studied were: age, gender, cause, time, effective donor, complications. Results: The most affected gender was male with an average age of 37 years, the main cause of brain death is head injury, the most usual diagnostic method was the clinical exploration, the time elapsed from admission to the brain death certification it was mostly 24 hours, with only 43.2% being effective donors. Recommendations: Knowledge about brain death within health personnel should be expanded in order to improve the management of these patients. Key words: Brain death, causes, intensive care unit, time, complications.