Which Drug Mimics Brain Death? - Fixanswer

Discussion. Our two cases suggest that

baclofen intoxication

may result in very prolonged and profound coma and may, in fact, mimic brain death.

What conditions can mimic brain death?

High cervical cord injury, fulminant Guillain–Barré-syndrome, organophos- phate intoxication, baclofen toxicity, lidocaine toxicity, and delayed vecuronium clearance

have all been reported as clinical mimics of brain death [7, 11–18].

Can barbiturates mimic brain death?

DISCUSSION:

Barbiturate overdose manifestations are known to mimic brain death

. Barbiturates exert inhibitory effects on different organ systems leading to cardiovascular collapse, respiratory depression, sedation, coma, and even death.

Can you be misdiagnosed as brain dead?

In the British studies, it was estimated that

up to 40% of patients are misdiagnosed

as being “brain dead” when in fact they had varying levels of consciousness. Individuals who are comatose do not respond to light or pain, and do not have a normal sleep-wake cycle.

How do you detect brain death?

a person must be unconscious and fail to respond to outside stimulation.
a person’s heartbeat and breathing can only be maintained using a ventilator.
there must be clear evidence that serious brain damage has occurred and it cannot be cured.

Why does blood flow stop in brain death?

Pathophysiology of brain death

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)

is considered the most important pathophysiological mechanism of BD leading to a complete cessation of intracranial blood flow.

Can a brain dead person be revived?

Brain death results from swelling in the brain; blood flow in the brain ceases and without blood to oxygenate the cells, the tissue dies. It

is irreversible

. Once brain tissue dies, there is nothing that can be done to heal it.

What is Lazarus reflex?

The Lazarus sign or Lazarus reflex is

a reflex movement in brain-dead or brainstem failure patients

, which causes them to briefly raise their arms and drop them crossed on their chests (in a position similar to some Egyptian mummies).

What is the number 1 cause of brain death?

TBI

is a major cause of death and disability

There were about 61,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2019. That’s about 166 TBI-related deaths every day. TBIs affect the lives of people of all ages.

How much barbiturates is lethal?

The toxic dose of barbiturates varies. However, an oral dose of one gram for most barbiturates can cause significant poisoning in an adult. Fatal cases of ingestion have occurred with doses ranging between 2.0 and 10.0 grams; the usual lethal blood level ranges from

40 to 80 mcg/mL

.

What is the antidote for barbiturates?

A medicine called naloxone (Narcan) may be given if an opiate was part of the mix. This medicine often rapidly restores consciousness and breathing, but its action is short-lived, and may need to be given repeatedly.

There is no direct antidote for barbiturates

.

How much Phenobarb is fatal?

A lethal dose of phenobarbital is

6-10 grams

, which a person may have in their medicine cabinet if they have been prescribed this drug. As a daytime sedative, a doctor may prescribe anywhere from 30 mg to 120 mg, and as an insomnia treatment, an individual could take as much as 320 mg.

Can you be brain dead and still breathe?

In brain death, a mechanical ventilator or “breathing machine” breathes for the patient. When the breathing machine is turned off,

a patient who is brain dead will not breathe

.

Do brain dead patients feel pain?

Does an individual feel any pain or suffer after brain death is declared? No.

When someone is dead, there is no feeling of pain or suffering

.

Can a brain dead person move their eyes?

They have suffered a particular type of injury to the brain stem. Their cerebral cortex is intact but is disconnected from their body.

All they can move is their eyes

—something that neither the patient nor the physician is aware of at the beginning.