A 3-year-old child with severe head trauma is intubated and on a respirator. The child has three flat electroencephalograms (EEG) completed 24 hours apart. The electrocardiogram (EKG) shows a rate of 90 beats per minute in a normal sinus rhythm
Which of the following describes these findings? 1. Heart–lung death
2. Cerebral death
3. Imminent death
4. Natural death
2
Rationale:
1. Heart–lung death, the irreversible cessation of cardiorespiratory functions, has not occurred, because the child is being mechanically ventilated.
2. Cerebral death, or brain death, is the irreversible cessation of all brain functions, including those of the cerebral cortex and brainstem, manifested by the absence of brain waves on EEG.
3. Imminent death means physical death is inevitable within a period of time.
4. Natural death is allowing cessation of all body functions without extraordinary medical interventions.
Chapter 43_LO06
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