Cerebral death induced by electrical current.

Application of a 126 V, 3 Ampers electrical current produces brain death in dogs assessed by irreversible installation of an isoelectric electroencephalogram. Cerebral death was immediate or preceded by a paroxistic activity of short duration (25 +/- 12 Seconds; Mean +/- SD). Besides the isoelectric electroencephalogram, there were immediate respiratory arrest and cardiac fibrillations followed by heart stopping. Reflexes were absent and no response to painful stimuli was observed. An appropriate utilization of the experimental method described in this study may contribute to improve the knowledge about the pathophysiology of cerebral death in humans.