Sex differences on solid organ histological characteristics after brain death1

PURPOSE: To investigate gender differences in the evolution of the inflammatory process in rats subjected to brain death (BD). METHODS: Adult Wistar rats were divided into three groups: female; ovariectomized female; and male rats. BD was induced using intracranial balloon inflation and confirmed by maximal pupil dilatation, apnea, absence of reflex, and drop of mean arterial pressure. Six hours after BD, histological evaluation was performed in lungs, heart, liver and kidneys, and levels of inflammatory proteins, estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone were determined in plasma. RESULTS: In the lungs, females presented more leukocyte infiltration compared to males (p<0.01). Ovariectomized female rat lungs were more hemorrhagic compared to other groups (p<0.001). In the heart, females had higher leukocyte infiltration and tissue edema compared to males (p<0.05). In the liver and kidneys, there were no differences among groups. In female group estradiol and progesterone were sharply reduced 6 hours after BD (p<0.001) to values observed in ovariectomized females and males. Corticosterone levels were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Sex hormones influence the development of inflammation and the status of organs. The increased inflammation in lungs and heart of female rats might be associated with the acute reduction in female hormones triggered by BD.

Influence of brain death and associated trauma on solid organ histological characteristics / Influência da morte encefálica e do trauma associado nas características histológicas de órgãos sólidos

PURPOSE: To evaluate histopathological alterations triggered by brain death and associated trauma on different solid organs in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n=37) were anesthetized with isoflurane, intubated and mechanically ventilated. A trepanation was performed and a balloon catheter inserted into intracraninal cavity and rapidly inflated with saline to induce brain death. After induction, rats were monitored for 30, 180, and 360 min for hemodynamic parameters and exsanguinated from abdominal aorta. Heart, lung, liver, and kidney were removed and fixed in paraffin to evaluation of histological alterations (H&E). Sham-operated rats were trepanned only and used as control group. RESULTS: Brain dead rats showed a hemodynamic instability with hypertensive episode in the first minute after the induction followed by hypotension for approximately 1 h. Histological analyses showed that brain death induces vascular congestion in heart (p<0.05), and lung (p<0.05); lung alveolar edema (p=0.001), kidney tubular edema (p<0.05); and leukocyte infiltration in liver (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brain death induces hemodynamic instability associated with vascular changes in solid organs and compromises most severely the lungs. However, brain death associated trauma triggers important pathophysiological alterations in these organs.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações histopatológicas desencadeadas pela morte encefálica e pelo trauma associado em diferentes órgãos sólidos em ratos. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar machos (n=37) foram anestesiados com isoflurano, entubados e mecanicamente ventilados. Foi realizada trepanação e um cateter foi inserido na cavidade intracraniana e insuflado rapidamente para induzir morte encefálica. Após a indução, os ratos foram monitorados por 30, 180 e 360 min para parâmetros hemodinâmicos e exsanguinados pela aorta abdominal. Coração, pulmão, fígado e rim foram removidos e fixados em parafina para avaliação de alterações histológicas (H&E). Ratos falso-operados foram apenas trepanados e usados como grupo controle. RESULTADOS: Ratos com morte encefálica apresentaram instabilidade hemodinâmica com episódio hipertensivo no primeiro minuto após a indução seguido de hipotensão por aproximadamente 1 hora. Análises histológicas demonstraram que a morte encefálica induz congestão vascular no coração (p<0,05) e pulmão (p<0,05); edema alveolar (p=0,001); edema tubular (p<0,05); e infiltrado leucocitário no fígado (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A morte encefálica induz instabilidade hemodinâmica associada com mudanças vasculares em órgãos sólidos e compromete mais severamente os pulmões. Contudo, o trauma associado à morte encefálica desencadeia importantes alterações fisiopatológicas naqueles órgãos.

Post-transfusion hypertension, convulsion and intracranial haemorrhage in beta-thalassemia major

The haematologic disorder beta-thalassemia major is common in Pakistan. We describe a patient with undiagnosed thalassemia presenting with hypertension and convulsions and found to have cerebral haemorrhage on neuro-imaging. He had been transfused 2 weeks before this illness. Our experience is similar to a few case reports described in literature that were found to have cerebral haemorrhages post-mortem after a similar clinical presentation. All patients had a blood transfusion within 2 weeks prior to the presentation so association with transfusion has been proposed. We have reviewed the several mechanisms presented and discussed the findings

Imaging Findings of Brain Death on 3-Tesla MRI

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the usefulness of 3-tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), T2*-weighted gradient recalled echo (GRE), and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in diagnosing brain death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging findings for 10 patients with clinically verified brain death (group I) and seven patients with comatose or stuporous mentality who did not meet the clinical criteria of brain death (group II) were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Tonsilar herniation and loss of intraarterial flow signal voids (LIFSV) on T2WI were highly sensitive and specific findings for the diagnosis of brain death (p < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). DWI, TOF-MRA, and GRE findings were statistically different between the two groups (p = 0.015, 0.029, and 0.003, respectively). However, cortical high signal intensities in T2WI and SWI findings were not statistically different between the two group (p = 0.412 and 1.0, respectively). CONCLUSION: T2-weighted imaging, DWI, and MRA using 3T MRI may be useful for diagnosing brain death. However, SWI findings are not specific due to high false positive findings.

El donante: elemento básico en el proceso de donación y trasplante / The donor: a basic element in the donation-transplant process

En la actualidad la mayor limitación del trasplante es la escasez de donantes, con aumento de la cifra de pacientes que mueren en listas de espera de órganos. El objetivo fundamental del estudio fue conocer la distribución de los donantes en el país y las causas que motivaron la ocurrencia de casos en que no se extrajeron los órganos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte longitudinal, prospectivo y observacional del proceso de donación-extracción de órganos en 87 donantes cadavéricos con muerte encefálica y corazón latiente, ofertados por la Oficina Nacional Coordinadora de Trasplantes al Grupo de Extracción Multiorgánica del Centro de Investigaciones Medicoquirúrgicas en el cuatrienio de 2002 a 2005. Las provincias que más donantes ofrecieron fueron Ciudad de La Habana, Camagüey y Holguín. Las causas más frecuentes de muerte encefálica fueron accidentes cerebrovasculares (43 casos) y traumas craneales (33 pacientes). Los pacientes permanecieron menos de 3 días en unidades de cuidados intensivos, como donantes potenciales. Se consiguió realizar la extracción múltiple de órganos en 78 de las 87 alertas recibidas (90 por ciento). La causa más frecuente de la no extracción es la negativa familiar. Es enfáticamente necesario cuidar a los donantes potenciales en las unidades de cuidados intensivos y velar por el tratamiento adecuado de la familia.

Nowadays, the highest limitation of transplantation is the lack of donors with an increase of the figure of patients that die waiting for an organ. The main objective of the study was to know the distribution of donors in the country and why organs were not extracted in some cases. A descriptive longitudinal, prospective and observational study of the donation-organ extraction process was conducted in 87 cadaveric donors with encephalic death and beating heart that were given to the Multiorgan Extraction Group of the Medicosurgical Research Center by the National Transplant Coordinating Office between 2002 and 2005. Havana City, Camagüey and Holguin were the provinces with the highest number of donors. The most frequent causes of encephalic death were cerebrovascular accident (43 cases) and cranial traumas (33 patients). The patients stayed less than 3 days at the intensive care unit as potential donors. Multiple organ extraction was possible in 78 of the 87 alerts received (90 percent). Family refusal was the most common cause of the non-extraction of organs. It is very important to take care of the donors at the intensive care units and to match over the adequate treatment of the family.

Reflex Movements in Patients with Brain Death: A Prospective Study in A Tertiary Medical Center

Reflex movements have been reported to occur in up to 75% of brain-dead patients, but this issue has not been addressed in Korea. The patients admitted to our hospital who met the criteria for brain death were enrolled between March 2003 and February 2005. The frequency and type of reflex movements in these patients were evaluated prospectively using a standardized protocol. Brain death was determined according to the guideline of Korean Medical Association. Of 26 patients who were included, five (19.2%) exhibited reflex movements such as the pronation-extension reflex, abdominal reflex, flexion reflex, the Lazarus sign, and periodic leg movements. This finding suggests that the frequency of spinal reflex movements is not rare and the awareness of these movements may prevent delays in brain-dead diagnosis and misinterpretations.

Hallazgos Neuropatológicos en Muerte Encefálica / Neuropathological Features in Brain Death

Se presentan los aspectos patológicos relacionados con la muerte encefálica, es decir la necrosis del tejido encefálico en un individuo a quien se la ha declarado en muerte encefálica. Se describe la estructura microscópica del "cerebro de respirador" que acompaña a este proceso.