To Accelerate the Process of Brain Death Determination in China Through the Strategy and Practice of Establishing Demonstration Hospitals

Our objective was to explore whether a brain death determination (BDD) strategy with demonstration hospitals can accelerate the process of BDD in China.

We proposed the construction standards for the BDD quality control demonstration hospitals (BDDHs). The quality and quantity of BDD cases were then analyzed.

A total of 107 BDDHs were established from 2013 to 2022 covering 29 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities under jurisdiction of the central government of the Chinese mainland (except Qinghai and Tibet). A total of 1,948 professional and technical personnel from these 107 BDDHs received training in BDD, 107 quality control personnel were trained in the quality control management of BDD, and 1,293 instruments for electroencephalography, short-latency somatosensory evoked potential recordings, and transcranial Doppler imaging were provided for BDD. A total of 6,735 BDD cases were submitted to the quality control center. Among the nine quality control indicators for BDD in these cases, the implementation rate, completion rate, and coincidence rate of apnea testing increased the most, reaching 99%.

The strategy of constructing BDDHs to promote BDD is feasible and reliable. Ensuring quality and quantity is a fundamental element for the rapid and orderly popularization of BDD in China.