6 Brain death

Question 1

Features of a coma: (4)

Answer 1

Eyes don’t open.
Can’t follow commands or utter recognisable words.
No intentional movement.
Can’t sustain eye movement.

Question 2

Features of locked in syndrome: (4)

Answer 2

Aware and awake, able to breath.
Cannot move or speak but can feel pain and position of limbs.
Communication via blinking.
Damage to ventral pons.

Question 3

What is a persistent vegetative state? (3)

Answer 3

Unconscious and unaware,
Unresponsive to all stimuli except pain.
Sleep wake cycle.

Question 4

What is brain stem death?

3 requirements before diagnosis:

Answer 4

Unable to breathe and unconscious.
Destroyed reticular formation.
No electrical activity.
Needs: compatible diagnosis, irreversible structural damage, apnoea.

Question 5

What is the clinical standard for identifying brain death?

Answer 5

Absent brain stem reflexes and persistent apnoea by two clinicians on two occasions.

Question 6

What is a minimally conscious state?

Answer 6

Severely altered consciousness with limited self or environmental awareness.