Health
Biopsychosocialspiritual wellbeing: spectrum from health to brain death
aim is return to wellbeing without complications
Death = Brain death: the irreversible cessation of brain function (brainstem +/- cerebrum)
Coma (U): unarousable unresponsiveness (usually progresses to recovery, PVS or death by 2 weeks)
Lethargy/obtundation/stupor (VP): arousable unresponsiveness
Delerium (A): alert impaired attention
Alert (A)
Pallor mortis: pale (15-25mins)
Livor mortis: pooling of blood in dependent areas (starts 20m-3h)
Rigor mortis: stiffens at 4h relaxes at 24h
Algor mortis: Cooling by 1C per hour to ambient
aim is return to wellbeing without complications
Death = Brain death: the irreversible cessation of brain function (brainstem +/- cerebrum)
- i.e. ventilation may permit other organ survival but there would be no respiratory drive on extubation
- cardiopulmonary death infers brain death and is usually the mode of certification
- No sensation or voluntary movement
- Variable reflexes
- Sleep-wake cycle present
- persistent = >2w
- permanent = >3m (non-traumatic) or >1y (traumatic)
Coma (U): unarousable unresponsiveness (usually progresses to recovery, PVS or death by 2 weeks)
Lethargy/obtundation/stupor (VP): arousable unresponsiveness
Delerium (A): alert impaired attention
Alert (A)
Pallor mortis: pale (15-25mins)
Livor mortis: pooling of blood in dependent areas (starts 20m-3h)
Rigor mortis: stiffens at 4h relaxes at 24h
Algor mortis: Cooling by 1C per hour to ambient