Is there any hope for brain death?

We often see plots about brain death on TV. Most of the time, it is caused by trauma. These people usually have a heartbeat but cannot breathe independently and are in a coma for a long time. So if this situation really happens in our real life, what should we do? Experts say that if brain death occurs clinically, it must be observed for 12 hours, and death can only be declared if the heart stops beating.

Experts say that there is still controversy in my country's medicine and law over the standard of brain death. But no matter what the legislation of each country is, the clinical diagnostic criteria for brain death are extremely scientific and rigorous. Doctors will never easily declare a patient brain dead, nor will they easily give up treatment.

1. my country’s definition of brain death

The currently accepted medical standards of death are brain death and cardiac death, but my country's legislation only recognizes the standard of cardiac death: that is, life ends when the heart stops beating. But the heart is an independent contracting organ, and it can continue beating for a long time even without the control of brain nerves. Therefore, many medical experts believe that the brain death standard is more scientific and has greater significance for organ transplantation. At present, my country is already formulating a brain death law. It is understood that the latest standards of the Ministry of Health's Brain Death Law Drafting Group are: deep coma, complete disappearance of brainstem reflexes, no spontaneous breathing (maintained by a ventilator, positive apnea test). After the initial diagnosis, brain death can be confirmed only after 12 hours of observation without any changes.

2. Can brain death be revived?

After brain death, one will not come back to life, but the diagnosis of "brain death" should be absolutely correct. If the diagnosis is wrong, the person may survive. There is a strict procedure for declaring brain death, which requires multiple tests. After the announcement, it takes 12 hours for confirmation. Note that each of those tests is essential. There are people who were declared dead and then came back to life. That was not a miracle, it was a misdiagnosis by the doctor.

3. How to determine brain death

At present, there are no clear regulations in our country's laws on the criteria for determining death. In the medical community, brain death is the most scientific standard for determining death. So, what is brain death? It refers to the complete and permanent cessation of the functions of the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem. my country has formulated the criteria for determining "brain death" in 2003:

1. Irreversible coma and brain unresponsiveness.

2. Brain waves disappear.

3. Respiratory arrest, and spontaneous breathing cannot be restored after more than 15 minutes of artificial respiration.

4. Cranial nerve reflexes (such as pupil reflex, corneal reflex, swallowing reflex, etc.) disappear, but spinal reflexes may exist.

5. The pupils are dilated and fixed.

6. Complete cessation of cerebral circulation (as shown by cerebral angiography); body temperature above 35°C; no history of drug or toxic poisoning (such as overdose of sleeping pills, sedatives, etc.).

Such criteria tell us that we must be very cautious in declaring brain death, and usually we have to repeat the examination 2 to 3 times within 24 hours before we can make a final confirmation.