This study consists of a survey created for intensive care physicians regarding their current practice of the implementation of apnoea test for patients with suspected brain death.
Although the apnoea test is part of nearly all protocols for determining brain death; implementation significantly differs among intensive care physicians according to national-level acts, national society protocols or local protocols. This cross-sectional study is based on an international, web-based questionnaire created for intensive care physicians, consisting of 25 questions in English. The survey will provide a current state of the practice of apnoea testing in patients with suspected brain death. The results can support the determination of future acts to standardize the apnoea test process. The given answers are anonymous. The e-mail address of the respondent is not recorded. Answers are treated solely for scientific purposes.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Number of apnoea tests
How much apnoea test is required for brain death determination.
Time frame: last 1 year
Timeframe between apnoea tests
If more than 1 apnoeae test is reuired for brain death determination, how many hours should elapse between the two tests.
Time frame: last 1 year
Preoxygenation
For how long (in minutes) the patient is preoxygenated before the apnoea test.
Time frame: last 1 year
Baseline arterial carbon dioxide (CO2) level
What is the required arterial partial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) before apnoea testing, confirmed by arterial blood gas measurement?
Time frame: Last 1 year
Detection of possible spontaneous breath movements
To determine if any observation method other than visualisation by the observer is used to determine possible spontaneous breath movements during the apnoea test.
Time frame: last 1 year
Satisfaction with current practice
Surveying the satisfaction of physicians with current practice regarding the method of the detection of spontaneous breath movements on a 4 grade scale (1 - non-reliable to 4 - very reliable).
Time frame: last 1 year
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