The goal of this observational study was to identify factors associated with the progression to brain death in critically ill patients with severe brain injuries in Tunisian intensive care units (ICUs). The main questions it aimed to answer were: What medical factors (e.g., type of brain injury, ICU stay duration) increased the likelihood of progressing to brain death in these patients? What patient characteristics (e.g., age, comorbidities) influenced the risk of brain death? What were the reasons behind low organ donation rates in Tunisia, including family refusal and hospital-level barriers? Participants were: Adults with severe coma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8) requiring mechanical ventilation in Tunisian ICUs. Data were collected as part of routine medical care, including information about medical factors, patient characteristics, and family attitudes towards organ donation, without any additional interventions beyond standard care. The study was conducted from November 2022 to November 2023 across three ICUs: Sahloul, Farhat Hached, and Mohamed Taher Maamouri Hospitals.
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Brain death incidence
Timeframe: 0-12 months
Family donation refusal rate
Timeframe: At time of brain death confirmation (through study completion, an average of 1 year)