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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is The Treatment For Child With Brain Damage Due To Cardiac Arrest?

Dear Dr This is regarding my son, my son ( 4 years old) had cardiac arrest 7 months before and revived after 20mins, blood circulation to brain is delayed and there was no movements from him, half hour before this cardiac arrest he was diagnosed as having first rate heart block in a clinic with holter device but doctor advised not to have pacemaker at this age(conduction system block), but on the way home, he was sounding in different way and not breathing properly we rushed to the hospital which took 20mins. During his hospitalization it was misdiagnosed as myocarditis as he was having fever, as drugs elevated to control the fever and irregular heart rhythm, the movements which he had after revival also stopped on the third day of hospitalization. CT Scan for brain conducted (27/04/13) which is attached with date and concluded global cerebral and cerebellar ischaemia (except for superior cerebellar hemisphere) with diffuse brain edema. Later Doctors in the hospital said since the blood pressure has dropped, there is no chance of recovery, he may not be alive once he is out of ventilator, after two days, we agreed to take him home for his last rights. On the way to home he started breathing of his own, we admitted him in another hospital. With Same CT scan report, doctors said chance of survival is negligible, We went for alternative medicine with ayurvedic, my son heart rate increased with smaller counts ( before - during sleep 40bpm, during wake up 50bpm, after ayurvedic medicine during sleep 55bpm, during wake up 65 to 75bpm), During this stage an MRI was conducted on 02/05/13, reports attached with date as name. As doctor said survival chance is negligible we went for alternative medication. We continued ayurvedic medicine where he opened his eyes, there is eye ball movement but no vision, there is hand moment and slow leg moment, turning his head but not controlled movements. he is responding by crying for all pain stimulus given by physiotherapists but not locating the pain. We have conducted an MRI (22/06/13) which is also attached for your perusal. After this MRI, his heart rate again dropped and his movements too, it was informed to the ayurvedic doctor and he gave medicines which we continued. Now again heart rate has improved a bit and his movements too. Current status is only he is having hearing ability that too he respond only by blinking his eyes and by crying. We seek your suggestion in this regard about the brain cell development. Currently we dont take any allopathic medicine or ayurvedic medicine, we are trying with alternative varmam and acu touch theraphy. Though there is slow progress, like his hands are not tight(stiff), swallowing orally. sometimes when there is a object near to his eyes, he reacting by lifting his hand to small level from ground but most of the time he doesnt. During his sleep all the time we noticed his tongue shivers. We await for your response. - Note: i couldnt attach the MRI scan reports, need your email id to attach.... My email id is YYYY@YYYY , hope will contact us at the earliest.
Fri, 20 Dec 2013
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Internal Medicine Specialist 's  Response
Dear patient.
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.

I can very well understand your anxiety as a parent. You are really brave to have endured so much and taken great care of your son during his illness.

I have read the detailed sequence of events mentioned in your history. However I could not access the CT and the MRI reports.

Your son is suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy which is due to hypoxic brain damage which was sustained during the prolonged cardiac arrest of 20 mins. The neurons which are damaged by lack of oxygen cannot regenerate again. However the current alive neurons can form new synaptic junctions and establish new neural networks. This is called as neuronal plasticity. This explains the vegetative state he is in right now. The best thing to do for him is to let nature take its own course and you should offer him the best support you can. He may require support for eating, dressing and other daily chores. Unfortunately there are no medicines in the market which can bring back the dead neurons in the brain. The effect of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is kind of irreversible.

As a brave parent, I am sure you would sit by your son and take care of him in the most sensitive and warm manner all through his time.

I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.
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What Is The Treatment For Child With Brain Damage Due To Cardiac Arrest?

Dear patient. Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question. I can very well understand your anxiety as a parent. You are really brave to have endured so much and taken great care of your son during his illness. I have read the detailed sequence of events mentioned in your history. However I could not access the CT and the MRI reports. Your son is suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy which is due to hypoxic brain damage which was sustained during the prolonged cardiac arrest of 20 mins. The neurons which are damaged by lack of oxygen cannot regenerate again. However the current alive neurons can form new synaptic junctions and establish new neural networks. This is called as neuronal plasticity. This explains the vegetative state he is in right now. The best thing to do for him is to let nature take its own course and you should offer him the best support you can. He may require support for eating, dressing and other daily chores. Unfortunately there are no medicines in the market which can bring back the dead neurons in the brain. The effect of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is kind of irreversible. As a brave parent, I am sure you would sit by your son and take care of him in the most sensitive and warm manner all through his time. I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me. Yours sincerely, Dr Thakker.