Lazarus sign and extensor posturing in a brain-dead patient

Case report

Luc HeytensDepartments of Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, and Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

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Jan VerlooyDepartments of Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, and Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

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Jan GheuensDepartments of Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, and Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

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Leo BossaertDepartments of Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, and Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

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✓ A man was declared brain dead after having sustained a gunshot wound to the head. All clinical criteria for the diagnosis of brain death were met. The electroencephalogram was isoelectric, and four-vessel angiography demonstrated the absence of cerebral blood flow. However, stereotypic spontaneous movements were observed which persisted for several hours. The possible mechanism is discussed and a short review of the literature is given.

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