QUALITY ASSESSMENT TOOL: MAPPING CLINICAL SIGNS OF BRAIN DEATH

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to identify characteristics of deaths and clinical signs of brain death in patients with neurological lesions admitted to critical care units, using a tool to support the active search.

Method:

a descriptive, retrospective study conducted from January to August 2017 in the critical units of two hospitals in southern Brazil. Data were collected from the medical records of patients who died using the instrument of the National Transplant Organization of Spain and analyzed by descriptive statistics.

Results:

the clinical signs of brain death identified before death were Glasgow three; cough reflexes absent; intracranial hypertension present, mydriatic pupils and polyuria. It is noteworthy that 14.8% presented all the criteria to start the diagnosis of brain death but were not notified to the State Transplant Center.

Conclusion:

the professionals working in these units must have knowledge of the clinical signs of brain death for an early identification of these patients, consequently increasing the notifications.

DESCRIPTORS
Brain Death; Health Profile; Quality Management; Tissue and Organ Procurement; Nursing