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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Patient After Brain Haemorrhage In PVS?
Question: Hi, my dad had a severe brain hemorrhage over 2 months ago. No signs of recovery and neurologist said unlikely and will remain in PVS. He is 61 years old. We made a very difficult decision and put him in comfort care. Basically, he is getting 20mg/hr of morphine and no food pipe. It has been 5 days since this started. How long can the body last? He was relatively healthy so his body is ok but brain is severely damaged. While it is hard to say but wondering how long he can last? They do have him on oxygen so is oxygen saturation is still above 95%. Blood Pressure has been hovering around 90/60 for few days. Also, can the morphine eventually ware off so he doesn't have affect of it, even if he is constantly on it? It is so so so hard on the family to see him in this condition. Please advise.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the condition your father is in. I know it can be a difficult decision but if in a persistent vegetative state I do understand your choice.
While the brain hemorrhage is the precipitating event leaving him in a vegetative state, what will happen now depends on other complications. The hemorrhage is absorbed by now, there is no risk of it compressing vital structures. So life is shortened but by the secondary complications of not being able to mobilize, (mainly infections which are bound to happen repeatedly) as well as not being able to feed oneself.
Regarding how long it will last, of course it can vary between individuals, but generally when in comfort care, not being fed by gastric tube, the average time is 7-8 days, the fact that blood pressure has been low for a few days now makes me think it won't last longer than that.
As for the morphine issue do not worry it doesn't create tolerance (wear off) so quickly, takes many weeks for that.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the condition your father is in. I know it can be a difficult decision but if in a persistent vegetative state I do understand your choice.
While the brain hemorrhage is the precipitating event leaving him in a vegetative state, what will happen now depends on other complications. The hemorrhage is absorbed by now, there is no risk of it compressing vital structures. So life is shortened but by the secondary complications of not being able to mobilize, (mainly infections which are bound to happen repeatedly) as well as not being able to feed oneself.
Regarding how long it will last, of course it can vary between individuals, but generally when in comfort care, not being fed by gastric tube, the average time is 7-8 days, the fact that blood pressure has been low for a few days now makes me think it won't last longer than that.
As for the morphine issue do not worry it doesn't create tolerance (wear off) so quickly, takes many weeks for that.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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