The role of optic nerve sheath diameter measurement in the diagnosis of brain death

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between op-tic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured us-ing computed tomography (CT), and ONSD mea-sured using bedside ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of brain death.PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 21 brain-dead patients were included in the study. The ONSD values of these patients were mea-sured using both USG and CT before and after brain death, and the relationship between these measurements was evaluated.RESULTS: There was a high level of correla-tion between the right-left eye ONSD measure-ments conducted before brain death using USG and CT, respectively (p=0.000, p=0.001). There was a high level of correlation between the right -left eye ONSD measurements conducted after brain death using USG and CT, respectively (p=0.000, p=0.00). Pre-brain death ONSD mean values of both left and right eyes, measured us-ing USG and CT, were found to be statistically significantly lower than the mean values of post -brain death measurements.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a statistical-ly significant difference was found between the optic nerve sheath diameter values measured before and after brain death using USG and CT. At the same time, it was determined that the val-ues of the optic nerve sheath diameter mea-sured using both CT and USG were correlated.