Citation

Saito T, Takeichi S, Nakajima Y, Yukawa N, Osawa M. Nippon Hoigaku Zasshi 1995; 49(6): 484-487.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Nihon Hoi Gakkai)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8583693

Abstract

Post-mortem concentration of pentobarbital in the blood and brain of two deceased neurosurgical patients was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Patients treated with barbiturate for elevated intracranial pressure after head injury may incur brain death. In the present two cases of brain death a large amount of barbiturate remained in the brain, even when the blood concentration was not detectable, possibly because the blood flow was stagnant in the brain. It is suggested that a patient under barbiturate coma should be given serious consideration as to the determination of brain death, even if barbiturate is negative in the blood.

Language: en