False-negative cerebral radionuclide flow study, in brain death, caused by a ventricular drain.

ABSTRACT

A radionuclide cerebral blood flow study demonstrated normal flow in the face of clinical and electrical brain death in a patient who had a ventricular drain. After the drain became obstructed and was removed, a further radionuclide study demonstrated no flow, confirming the role of the drain in the earlier false-negative studies.