Brain death Flashcards
1
Q
What does GCS stand for? What are the main tests?
A
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- Eyes open
- Best motor response
- Best verbal response
2
Q
What is locked in syndrome?
A
- Cannot move/speak
- Damage to ventral pons
- Feel pain, touch, limb position, able to breathe
- Usually caused by brain stem stroke
3
Q
What is a persistent vegetative state?
A
- Unconscious/unaware
- Unresponsive to exterma stimuli- possibly pain
- Eyes open, can track, dysconjugate
- Chronic wakefulness
- May smile, cry, moan, shout
- If not recovered from vegetative state after 30days
4
Q
What is brain stem death?
A
- Unable to breathe & unconscious
- Destroyed reticular formation
- No electrical activity
5
Q
What are preconditions of brain stem death?
A
- Diagnosis compatible with brain stem death
- Apnoeic
- Presence of irreversible structural brain damage
6
Q
What are exclusions of brain stem death?
A
- Drug effects
- Hypothermia
- Metabolic/endocrine abnormalities
- Intoxification
7
Q
What clinical tests can be done to confirm brain stem death?
A
- Absent brain stem reflexes: pupils, corneal, no gag/cough/vestibulo- ocular
- Persistent apnoea
- 2Practitioners on 2 occasions
8
Q
What is minimally conscious state?
A
- Severely altered unconsciousness
- Limited self/environmental awareness
- Follow simple commands
