• Donohoe KJ, Frey KA, Gerbaudo VH, Mariani G, Nagel JS, Shulkin B. Procedure guideline for brain death scintigraphy, 1.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 2003 Feb 25. 5 p. [10 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

Background Information and Definitions

The diagnosis of brain death is a clinical diagnosis that is sometimes made with the help of cerebral perfusion scintigraphy. It is important that all physicians be knowledgeable in the clinical requirements for the diagnosis of brain death, especially the need to establish irreversible cessation of all function of the cerebrum and brain stem. Institutions performing scintigraphy for the evaluation of possible brain death should develop clinical guidelines and procedures for the clinical diagnosis that incorporate both clinical evaluations and the integration of ancillary tests such as perfusion scintigraphy.

Common Indications

1. Assess brain blood flow in patients suspected of brain death.

Procedure

The detailed procedure recommendations in the guideline address the following areas: patient preparation; information pertinent to performing the procedure (i.e., important data that the physician should have about the patient at the time the exam is performed and interpreted); precautions; information regarding the radiopharmaceutical (i.e., ranges of administered activity, organ receiving the largest radiation dose, effective dose); image acquisition; interventions; processing; interpretation/reporting; quality control; and sources of error.

None provided

The type of evidence supporting the recommendations is not specifically stated.

• Donohoe KJ, Frey KA, Gerbaudo VH, Mariani G, Nagel JS, Shulkin B. Procedure guideline for brain death scintigraphy, 1.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 2003 Feb 25. 5 p. [10 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2003 Feb 25

Society of Nuclear Medicine, Inc - Medical Specialty Society

Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)

Task Force

Authors: Kevin J. Donohoe, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA); Kirk A. Frey, MD, PhD (University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI); Victor H. Gerbaudo, PhD (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA); Giuliano Mariani, MD (University of Pisa Medical School, Pisa, Italy); James S. Nagel, MD (Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA); and Barry Shulkin, MD (University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI)

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on April 15, 2005.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.