Monitoring spontaneous breathing during apnea testing with electrical impedance tomography

Abstract: The apnea test (AT) is a critical procedure in the determination of brain death (BD), with the detection of spontaneous breathing efforts serving as a key criterion. However, the reliance on visual observation alone for this assessment can pose challenges in detecting subtle respiratory movements. This case report presents the integration of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) as an adjunctive monitoring tool during the AT in a BD patient, demonstrating its potential to provide real-time visualization of ventilation distribution and detect changes in lung volume. The findings suggest that EIT could enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of detecting spontaneous breathing efforts, offering additional insights into respiratory status of the patient.