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Multi Organ Disorder, Ventilator Use, Cardiac Arrest, Brain Hemorrhage, In Comatose State, BP, Kidney Functions Normal. Chances Of Recovery ?
Question: My mother(52 yrs) met a road accident on 22/07/2011, she developed multi-organ disorder and went under ventilation support after 48 hours of hospitalization. Though her brain was full alert, she was given sedative for some time. After 10-12 days she was able to speak to us, could recognize us and was conscious. She was in a recovering phase wherein she got 3 cardiac arrest on same day each of 3-4 seconds on 31st day of her treatment that have led to Anoxic brain injury. There brain CT scan report showed small hemorrhage.
Neurosurgeons did not find anything surgical. Now its almost a month she is still in Coma phase but she opens her eyes, moves her eyeballs, chews sometimes. Doctors are not much hopeful about her.
Her BP is normal without medecine
Kidney function is normal, required urine output is there.
She is put under minimal mode ventilator support.
Is there any chance of recovery neurologically ??
Neurosurgeons did not find anything surgical. Now its almost a month she is still in Coma phase but she opens her eyes, moves her eyeballs, chews sometimes. Doctors are not much hopeful about her.
Her BP is normal without medecine
Kidney function is normal, required urine output is there.
She is put under minimal mode ventilator support.
Is there any chance of recovery neurologically ??
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
Your mother had polytrauma probably without significant head injury (she was fully alert according to you).
The reason for recurrent cardiac arrests is not mentioned; sometimes it occurs without obvious cause.
The rate and extent of recovery from hypoxic brain injury is highly variable and depends on how much time the brain was deprived of blood supply.
It is difficult to give a time frame in a given patient but as your mother was unconscious for nearly a month, it is going to a long time for her to recover and may not be total.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Thanks for the query.
Your mother had polytrauma probably without significant head injury (she was fully alert according to you).
The reason for recurrent cardiac arrests is not mentioned; sometimes it occurs without obvious cause.
The rate and extent of recovery from hypoxic brain injury is highly variable and depends on how much time the brain was deprived of blood supply.
It is difficult to give a time frame in a given patient but as your mother was unconscious for nearly a month, it is going to a long time for her to recover and may not be total.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Radhika
Hello,
The reason for consecutive cardiac arrests were hypo tension during dialysis.The duration of each of these attacks were less than a minute. And she was alert before the cardiac arrests, post that she is comatose. The EEG report concludes "Abnormal interictal drowsy bedside EEG record showing poorly reactive alpha-theta range activity with occasional generalised epileptiform discharges" . This EEG was done on 29/08/2011.The recent development for her is that her oxygen support requirement for brain has come down. Please let me know if you need some more details.And please suggest.
The reason for consecutive cardiac arrests were hypo tension during dialysis.The duration of each of these attacks were less than a minute. And she was alert before the cardiac arrests, post that she is comatose. The EEG report concludes "Abnormal interictal drowsy bedside EEG record showing poorly reactive alpha-theta range activity with occasional generalised epileptiform discharges" . This EEG was done on 29/08/2011.The recent development for her is that her oxygen support requirement for brain has come down. Please let me know if you need some more details.And please suggest.
Hi,
Thanks for the follow up.
The first thing is that your mother should be off ventilator.
Given that her oxygen requirement is coming down is a good sign.
Also her other organs are functioning well.
EEG(electroencephalogram) is not helpful in predicting her outcome in this situation.
She should be continued with the present treatment and physiotherapy actively and hope for the best.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for the follow up.
The first thing is that your mother should be off ventilator.
Given that her oxygen requirement is coming down is a good sign.
Also her other organs are functioning well.
EEG(electroencephalogram) is not helpful in predicting her outcome in this situation.
She should be continued with the present treatment and physiotherapy actively and hope for the best.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Radhika
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