Neuroanesthesia & neurocritical care
Feasibility of High-Flow Oxygen Therapy in Apnea Testing for Brain Death Diagnosis
Authors' conclusion
HFO through the endotracheal tube is feasible and safe method for apnea testing. In patients with confirmed brain death via the standard apnea test, HFO yielded consistent diagnostic results while maintaining better oxygenation.
Study context
- Population
- Adults meeting clinical brain death criteria requiring an apnea test, ICUs at Orléans University Hospital, Franceeach underwent both tests
- Participants
- 15 adults
- Exposure
- High-flow oxygen (HFO) via ETT vs T-piece 8 L/min O2 for apnea testing
- HFOn = 15
- T-piecen = 15reference
- Outcome
- Feasibility and safety of HFO via ETT for apnea testing vs T-piece
Methodological detailssingle-center, crossover (two successive apnea tests in the same order)
- Single-center
- Crossover (two successive apnea tests in the same order)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PaCO2 at end of apnea test · 10 minutes
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | T-piece | HFO |
|---|---|---|
| PaO2 during apnea test (start to end) | 404 to 215 (SD 115–118) mm Hg | 342 to 308 (SD 114–92) mm Hg |
PaO2 during apnea test (start to end)
- PaO2 decreased significantly with T-piece but remained stable with HFO
Original publication
Feasibility of High-Flow Oxygen Therapy in Apnea Testing for Brain Death Diagnosis. Crit Care Med. Published 19 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →