Spontaneous and reflex movements in brain death

Saposnik, G. MD
Bueri, J. A. MD
Mauriño, J. MD
Saizar, R. MD
Garretto, N. S. MD

From the Department of Neurology, Hospital J.M. Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Received July 22, 1999.

Accepted in final form September 6, 1999.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. José A. Bueri, Department of Neurology, Hospital J.M. Ramos Mejía, Urquiza 609, Buenos Aires (1221), Argentina.

Presented in part at the 51st annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology Meeting, Toronto, Canada, April 17–24, 1999.

Article abstract

Spontaneous and reflex movements may be found in patients with brain death (BD). The authors prospectively evaluated their frequency using a standardized protocol. Among 38 patients who fulfilled criteria for BD, the authors found 15 (39%) with spontaneous or reflex movements. The most common movement was finger jerks. Undulating toe flexion sign, triple flexion response, Lazarus sign, pronation–extension reflex, and facial myokymia also were seen. These movements may be more common than reported and do not preclude the diagnosis of BD.