Brain Stem Death: What it is, How it Happens, and What it Means
Brain stem death, which is often the same thing as brain death, is a medical situation in which the brain stops working permanently. The NHS says that this state is “beyond recovery” because the brain has been damaged beyond repair. People who are close to brain stem death may show signs of sleep, with the help of a respirator that helps them breathe artificially. Even so, they will never wake up or be able to breathe on their own. The goal of this article is to give a full look at the complicated issues regarding these condition.
What Does Brain Stem Death Mean?
The National Library of Medicine specifies that brain stem death is a state in which the brain stem stops working for good. Importantly, the brain stem is the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord. It is an important part of the central nerve system that is located in the spine.
Controlling important automatic body processes like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and swallowing is the job of the brain stem. In addition, it’s the way that information gets sent between the brain and the rest of the body. It’s an important part of basic brain processes like movement, consciousness, and alertness.
It is very important to tell the difference between brain stem death and disorders of awareness, like vegetative states, where people can become conscious again while still having a working brain stem.
What kills brain stem cells
The NHS says that brain death happens when the brain suddenly stops getting blood or oxygen. Some common reasons are:
- Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating, preventing oxygen from getting to the brain.
- A heart attack is when the heart suddenly stops getting blood.
- A stroke happens when the brain’s blood flow is cut off or interrupted.
- Blood clots are formed when platelets stick together and stop blood from flowing through the body.
Some other things that could cause brain stem death are:
- Very bad head injury
- Brain Bleeding Infections, like encephalitis Brain Growths
How to Spot Signs of Brain Stem Death
Better Health says that the following are clear signs:
- Unresponsive Pupils: The pupils don’t respond to light.
- No Response to Pain: Not reacting to things that hurt.
- Lack of Blinking: When the surface is touched, the eyes don’t move (corneal response).
- Eyes Don’t Move: When the head is turned, the eyes don’t move (oculocephalic response).
- There Is No Movement of the Eyes with Cold Water: The eyes do not react when cold water is put into the ear (oculovestibular response).
- Lack of Gag reaction: When the back of the throat is touched, there is no gag reaction.
- No Spontaneous Breathing: The person stops breathing on their own, without a respirator.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): During EEG tests, there is no brain activity that can be seen.
Effects and Need for Medical Dependence
When these signs show up, the patient needs tools and medicines that keep their organs working to stay alive. Knowing the dangers and possible death that come with brain stem death makes these signs and symptoms even more important to watch out for. Because of this, medical care, ethical issues, and choices about life support measures need to be handled in a more complex way. Being aware of brain stem death is not only important for medical reasons, but also for important social and moral reasons.