1/3. pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum during the apnea test: how safe is this procedure?apnea test is a crucial requirement for determining the diagnosis of brain death (BD). There are few reports considering clinical complications during this procedure. We describe a major complication during performing the apnea test. We also analyse their practical and legal implications, and review the complications of this procedure in the literature. A 54 year-old man was admitted for impaired consciousness due to a massive intracerebral hemorrhage. Six hours later, he had no motor response, and all brainstem reflexes were negative. The patient fulfilled American Academy of neurology (AAN) criteria for determining BD. During the apnea test, the patient developed pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, and finally cardiac arrest. apnea test is a necessary requirement for the diagnosis of brain death. However, it is not innocuous and caution must be take in particular clinical situations. Complications during the apnea test could be more frequent than reported and may have practical and legal implications. Further prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the frequency and nature of complications during this practice.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Facial myokymia in brain death.BACKGROUND: brain death (BD) is the irreversible loss of all functions of the brain and brainstem. Spontaneous and reflex movements of the limbs have been described in this condition. However, facial myokymia (FM) in BD has not been previously reported. The origin of that motor phenomenon in alive patients is still uncertain, since supranuclear, nuclear and peripheral mechanisms have been proposed. OBJECTIVE: We describe the presence of FM in a patient who fulfilled the criteria for BD. A 40-year-old-man had right-sided weakness and impaired consciousness. After 14 h admission, he fulfilled the criteria for BD. A CT scan of the head showed a large putaminal hemorrhage. The EEG was isoelectric. At that time, fine spontaneous twitches of the left cheek were noticed. They consisted of repetitive and rhythmic movements in groups of 3-5 lasting for < 5 s. These movements appeared every 2-10 min during 6 h. DISCUSSION: Spinal reflexes have been described in BD. The presence of any movements other than the recognized reflexes may question this diagnosis and limit organ procurement for transplantation. The recognition of FM as an accepted movement in BD patients has practical and legal implications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Clinical and anatomical observation of a patient with a complete lesion at C1 with maintenance of a normal blood pressure during 40 minutes after the accident.The authors report on their clinical observations concerning a patient with a complete spinal cord injury at the level of C1, followed by a cardiac hypoxic arrest, due to immediate respiratory paralysis after the accident. Normal cardiac activity was obtained as a result of rapid resuscitation measures, using only intubation and external cardiac massage without any drug administration. The blood pressure was maintained without any drugs at a level of 130 Torr during 40 minutes before it fell to a permanent level of 50--40 Torr on ventilation alone. The diagnosis during the first hours was believed to be that of an irreversible coma with no evidence of vertebral injury. The patient started to recover consciousness after a few days but died on the 15th day. The case is discussed in the light of the literature and of the recent physiological experiments concerning the rapid changes of blood pressure after spinal cord section in animals.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = consciousness (Clic here for more details about this article) |