Aleman M, Williams D C, Guedes A, Madigan J E
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616.
J Vet Intern Med. 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):663-72. doi: 10.1111/jvim.12570. Epub 2015 Mar 19.
An overdose of pentobarbital sodium administered i.v. is the most commonly used method of euthanasia in veterinary medicine. Determining death after the infusion relies on the observation of physical variables. However, it is unknown when cortical electrical activity and brainstem function are lost in a sequence of events before death.
HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To examine changes in the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex and brainstem during an overdose of pentobarbital sodium solution for euthanasia. Our testing hypothesis is that isoelectric pattern of the brain in support of brain death occurs before absence of electrocardiogram (ECG) activity.
Fifteen horses requiring euthanasia.
Prospective observational study. Horses with neurologic, orthopedic, and cardiac illnesses were selected and instrumented for recording of electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER), and ECG. Physical and neurologic (brainstem reflexes) variables were monitored.
Loss of cortical electrical activity occurred during or within 52 seconds after the infusion of euthanasia solution. Cessation of brainstem function as evidenced by a lack of brainstem reflexes and disappearance of the BAER happened subsequently. Despite undetectable heart sounds, palpable arterial pulse, and mean arterial pressure, recordable ECG was the last variable to be lost after the infusion (5.5-16 minutes after end of the infusion).
Overdose of pentobarbital sodium solution administered i.v. is an effective, fast, and humane method of euthanasia. Brain death occurs within 73-261 seconds of the infusion. Although absence of ECG activity takes longer to occur, brain death has already occurred.
静脉注射过量戊巴比妥钠是兽医学中最常用的安乐死方法。输注后确定死亡依赖于对身体变量的观察。然而，在死亡前一系列事件中，皮质电活动和脑干功能何时丧失尚不清楚。
假设/目的：研究戊巴比妥钠溶液过量用于安乐死时大脑皮质和脑干电活动的变化。我们的测试假设是，支持脑死亡的大脑等电位模式在心电图（ECG）活动消失之前出现。
15匹需要安乐死的马。
前瞻性观察研究。选择患有神经、骨科和心脏疾病的马，并安装仪器记录脑电图、眼电图、脑干听觉诱发电位（BAER）和心电图。监测身体和神经（脑干反射）变量。
在输注安乐死溶液期间或之后52秒内，皮质电活动消失。随后出现脑干反射消失和BAER消失所证明的脑干功能停止。尽管听不到心音、触不到动脉搏动且平均动脉压测不出，但可记录的心电图是输注后最后消失的变量（输注结束后5.5 - 16分钟）。
静脉注射过量戊巴比妥钠溶液是一种有效、快速且人道的安乐死方法。脑死亡在输注后73 - 261秒内发生。尽管心电图活动消失需要更长时间，但脑死亡已经发生。
