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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Follows After Brain Damage?

w long can you live if your brain is dead but you are still breathing. My uncle had a cardiac arrest one week ago and has been in intensive care for nearly a week, it has come to light that it took 20 minutes to recusitate him he is breathing on his own has a strong heart beat, when we touch him he opens his eyes, but there are no other responses from him we have been told he is probably brain damaged due to the lack of oxygen. How long could he live like this if he is still breathing on his own, & just on a morphing drip ONLY?!
posted on Sat, 3 May 2014
Twitter Thu, 15 Dec 2016 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 15 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

As far as I understand from your description, your uncle has suffered a hypoxic brain ischemia. His actual state seems to be a vegetative state, with diffuse damage of his brain.

Unfortunately, we can not predict how long this situation will go on. It may last even for years, if his heart and other organs are intact.

Common complications in these situations are infection and decubitus ulcers from lack of movements.

Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!

Kind regards, Dr. Aida
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What Follows After Brain Damage?

Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! As far as I understand from your description, your uncle has suffered a hypoxic brain ischemia. His actual state seems to be a vegetative state, with diffuse damage of his brain. Unfortunately, we can not predict how long this situation will go on. It may last even for years, if his heart and other organs are intact. Common complications in these situations are infection and decubitus ulcers from lack of movements. Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties! Kind regards, Dr. Aida