Feedback regarding ICU experiences post Cardiac Arrest

[rduwhtmm]

My mom was 65 years old, she went into cardiac arrest, and it took them 11 minutes to revive her. She was taken to the hospital, to ICU, where they did therapeutic hypothermia (by blankets only, no cooling fluid) for 24 hours. They started warming her up, and took her off sedation. She started having Myoclonic seizures, so they put her back under sedation. Not six hours after they warmed her up, they did the EEG, and CT Scan. I was not there, but the neurologist told my sibling and family member that on the first CT scan when my mom was brought in, she had some brain damage, but on the second CT (done within 6 hours of warming her up, she had severe brain damage), and would be in a vegetative state. They recommend removal of the ventilator, to take her off life support. My family members agreed, and 5 days after the arrest, she was taken off life support. She passed quickly. I am having doubts that we did it too soon, and wanted to hear from someone else with a similar experience.

Does anyone know can brain damage show up that quickly, after an arrest event?

She was having the jerks, but the last day, she only had two.

She was on sedation the whole five days, could that have caused her not to be able to open her eyes or respond?

After they took her off the vent, they gave her meds so she would not make that rattle sound, but also something to help her relax. I did not think to ask what it was, because I was so focused on what was about to happen. If she already was sedation, even thought they took that out, why would they have to give her more sedation? Could that have caused her to stop breathing so quickly? Could they have given her morphine without asking us?

Any feedback would greatly help me understand.

[Sepsur]

Hi @rduwhtmm

Firstly, can I say how sorry I am to read your post, my heart goes out to you and your family. I could not be with my mother when she died.

You may not get much response here, not because people don’t want to help but because our loved ones and family members are still alive - people tend not to stay on here if their loved one passes away. There are bereavement groups on FB etc where you may find more people who have experienced the tragedy that you have just lived through. Take care and I hope you find the answers and peace you are looking forward. Sometimes the body cannot survive that level of trauma.

[rduwhtmm in reply to Sepsur]

Ok, thank you

[Grant_za]

I really feel for what you are going thru right now, especially the torment of doubt.Above all, you need to consider your mother's sentiments, or wishes, in this situation - specifically regards future quality of life.

When withdrawing life support, doctors will often use very strong sedation agents - these may include morphine, pethidine etc - these agents suppress involuntary reactions, not to speed up the onset of death - that will occur naturally.

So to give you an example, although very obscure, I'm certain you'll understand.

I'm going to use drowning as an example - drownings occur by a specific sequence of events. Initially the person is trying to stay above the water in order to breath, but they continue taking in water - soon enough their head is under the water and they try hold their breath - these are conscious and purposeful actions on the part of the person. But then they cannot hold their breath anymore. At this point the brain kicks in as an organ (not a conscious elective decision by the person) and forces the lungs to suck in air - but instead it's water that goes in. The onset of death happens within 2 minutes of that.

The brain (again not a conscious decision by the person) will shut down or sacrifice every organ and function in the interests of its own survival.

Likewise, in the withdrawal of external life support systems, the brain, depending on its level of activity, will try save itself.

In your mother's instance, brain function would have been severely impaired. The brain itself will not know there is no prospect of survival, and therefore still try to "fight" to survive, no matter how minimal function it may have.

These are all involuntary reactions - not conscious effort on the part of your mother - the brain is functioning merely as an organ in its own interest, not your mother as a whole person.

This is where the various sedative agents play their role in allowing as calm and peaceful transition from one life to the next.

I can assure you this is done in the interest of the patient as a whole. The last thing doctors want is the death of their patients and potential reputational damage that can bring. Very often doctors are seen as clinical and unemotional - this is really a brave face they put on for the sake of patients and family of the patient. When away from the patient and their family they will often "unload" on colleges, or tell their spouse about the unfortunate events of the day when they get home.

I hope this helps a little in understanding why or how things are done clinically, and alleviate some doubt or even guilt you may be experiencing. But above all, consider what your mother's wishes may have been in the circumstances.

I'm truly sorry you have had to gone thu this and lost your mother.

For now what you have left is sorrow.

Embrace it, you have every right.

You have a long emotional filled recovery ride ahead of you.

Don't let this end experience dominate your thoughts. Although traumatic, it was only a tiny and miniscule fraction of your mother's long life - there is much better to remember.

[rduwhtmm in reply to Grant_za]

Thank you so much for your reply. It brings some comfort to me, and I appreciate your time, in responding.

[FamilyHistorian]

I’m 72 now when I was 21 my father at the age of 59 had a series of stokes. I stayed beside his bedside for a week. He was unconscious most of the time and didn’t have a clue who I was. I wasn’t given the option of what should happen to him. He passed away at the end of the week. I don’t know what I would have done if I had been given an option. My mother visited him once and my mother wouldn’t let me contact my younger brother. No mobiles etc then.

I think you have to “respect” the decisions that have been made on behalf of your mother. You should not reproach yourself. Now is the time to mourn and remember not forgetting that memories are of the good and not so good times because you are remembering the person as they were. Don’t forget to talk to the family and fiends about.

Thinking of you. No more what ifs.

[rduwhtmm in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you hugs