- 1. What is a coma
- What happens when the person is in a coma
- 2. What is brain death
- Can the brain-dead person wake up again?
- How brain death is confirmed
- What to do in case of brain death
Brain death and coma are two very different but clinically important conditions, which can usually arise after a serious trauma to the brain, such as after a serious accident, falling from a height, stroke, tumors or overdose, for example.
Although the coma can progress to brain death, they are usually very different phases and affect the person's recovery in a different way. In brain death, there is a definite loss of brain function and, therefore, recovery is not possible. The coma is a situation in which the patient maintains some level of brain activity, which can be detected on an electroencephalogram, and there is hope for recovery.
1. What is a coma
A coma is a state of profound loss of consciousness, in which the person does not wake up, but the brain continues to produce electrical signals that spread throughout the body and that maintain the most basic and important systems for survival, such as breathing or the response of eyes to light, for example.
Often, the coma is reversible and, therefore, the person may wake up again, however, the time until the coma passes is very variable, according to age, general health and the cause. There are even situations in which the coma is induced by doctors to increase the speed of recovery of the patient, as is the case in cases of severe traumatic brain injuries.
A person who is in a coma is considered to be legally alive, regardless of the severity or duration of that condition.
What happens when the person is in a coma
When a person is in a coma he needs to be connected to breathing apparatus and his circulation, urine and feces are constantly monitored. The feeding is done through probes because the person does not show any reaction and therefore needs to stay in the hospital or at home, requiring constant care.
2. What is brain death
Brain death occurs when there is no longer any type of electrical activity in the brain, although the heart continues to beat and the body can be kept alive with an artificial respirator and feeding directly through the vein.
Can the brain-dead person wake up again?
Cases of brain death are irreversible and, therefore, unlike coma, the person will no longer be able to wake up. For this reason, the brain-dead person is legally dead and the devices that keep the body alive can be turned off, especially if they are needed for other cases where there is a chance of success.
How brain death is confirmed
Brain death needs to be confirmed by a doctor, after evaluating various types of involuntary bodily responses that assess the presence of brain activity. Thus, a person is considered brain dead when:
- Does not respond to simple orders like "open your eyes", "close your hand" or "wiggle a finger"; Arms and legs do not react when moved; Pupils do not change size with the presence of light; Eyes do not close when the eye is touched; there is no vomiting reflex; the person is not able to breathe without the help of machines.
In addition, other tests, such as an electroencephalogram, can be done to ensure that there is no electrical activity in the brain.
What to do in case of brain death
Upon receiving the news that the patient is brain dead, doctors generally question the victim's direct family if they authorize organ donation, as long as they are healthy and able to save other lives.
Some organs that can be donated in the event of brain death are the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and the cornea of the eyes, for example. As there are many patients waiting in line to receive an organ, the brain-dead patient's organs can contribute to treatment and even save another person's life in less than 24 hours.
