Anoxic/hypoxic brain injury

[Bexsieh]

Hi all,

Posting for my partner, her mother went to hospital for cataract surgery (otherwise pretty healthy) she was getting it done under general anesthetic as she has anxiety. She had a 'difficult intubation' in which the tube caused a bleed which sent her into cardiac arrest, it took 10 mins to restart her heart. They don't know how long she was without oxygen (they bagged her immediately) but between the blood going into her lungs and getting the intubation in successfully they can't tell us.

She's been in an induced coma - will be a week tomorrow. She keeps having seizures when they try to reduce the sedation levels so haven't been able to do an EEG. Her pupils are reactive and she has coughed (without stimulation), she had a CT taken on day 4 which is showing as normal. The doctors won't say any of this is a positive sign. She goes for an MRI tomorrow.

They think she has severe brain damage due to the hypoxic/anoxic brain injury. It's been an emotional rollercoaster. I'm not sure what I'm looking for...I guess any advice on how to best support my partner or any examples of others with similar injuries and what their journey was like e.g. survival. Or anything at all that you think would be useful.

Thanks in advance ,

Bex

[Rhyl1 Partner Moderator ICUsteps]

I’m so sorry to hear about your partner’s mother. I’m slightly confused that she hasn’t had an EEG as this sorts out what type of seizures she is having. Generally seizures after a cardiac arrest are not a good sign. But there are always exceptions to this. All you can do is support your partner in this and try to take as much pressure off their shoulders as you can. You are all in my thoughts.

[Bexsieh in reply to Rhyl1]

Thanks Rhyl, this is really helpful I should have said they tried to do an EEG but said she just went into seizure as soon as they reduced the sedation. They said all it showed was that she was seizuring- I got the impression they stopped quite quickly but I'll ask and see if they can tell what type. She's off for an MRI today, being transported to another hospital who has capability to do this for someone on a ventilator. X

[Mammajojo]

HiI'm so sorry that you and your partner are going through this. I ve recently been through a similar situation with my husband being on a ventilator and the hospital being unable to wake him as he became unmanageable once the sedation was lowered which resulted in him needing a tracheostomy with thankfully worked. I'm sorry I can offer any great advice only to say just being there for your partner, listening and hugging them when needed will mean so much more than you realise. I'm sending you both all my love at this difficult time x

[Bexsieh in reply to Mammajojo]

Thanks mamajojo! So glad the tracheostomy has worked and I hope he has continued to make good progress in his recovery. Do you mind me asking how your husband was unmanageable? Was it seizures or the disorientation of waking up?In addition to seizures my MIL has now got suspected myoclonic jerks. She's on another drug which so far has got these under control and they may try to do an EEG today again. MRI delayed until tomorrow.

Thanks for your kind words, it does mean a lot. Xx

[Mammajojo in reply to Bexsieh]

It was mainly the disorientation but also his body kept going into shock so his temperature would go dangerously high, his heart rate was also dangerously high as was his blood pressure and he repeatedly attempted to rip the ventilator out of his mouth (once he actually manages to fully rip it out and they had to immediately re ventilate). The doctors were worried he may if had some form of brain damage and kept saying the wanted to do an mri but kept putting it off/delaying it even when we pleaded with them to do one... there was alot of family - doctor arguments to be honest as they seemed to always put off doing certain tests/scans that they mentioned were needed. He's been back home for 7 days now but the hospital have given us no aftercare at all even with him having a tracheostomy wound in his neck that i am having to clean and dress myself.

It's all been abit of a nightmare.

We had to fight for alot of things to be done which put alot more unneeded stress into the situation.

It's alot for family's to try and cope with seeing a loved one in such a vulnerable state isn't it.

I really feel for you right now honestly.

Hopefully you will get more answers from the mri and then the next stage plan can get put into action.

Good luck hunni and as always I'm sending love x

[Bexsieh in reply to Mammajojo]

That sounds awful, so sorry you had to go through that! Feeling unsupported is the last thing you need when this is such a traumatic event without having to push and fight!

I hope your husband continues to recover and you get some support.

Thanks again for taking the time to help. Xx

[Shellmonkey in reply to Mammajojo]

We went through the same with my husband then they moved him to a rehab hospital to help with his brain that was the worst experience and I brought him home were he has came on in leaps and bounds but still short term memory problems. We have had to fight for everything but had no support and have had a brain scan done privately today will have results in 5 days.

We have done complaints to pals.

Hope u get the support you need x

[Bexsieh]

Just an update...her MRI has came back as normal. So that's a normal CT, blood test (markers for brain damage) and now MRI. The doctors are surprised and stumped! She still goes into seizure/myoclonic jerks when the sedation is decreased, so still no further forward in waking her up! Anyone had any experience of this? X

[Doglover276 in reply to Bexsieh]

So glad to hear the MRI was normal. How has she been progressing? Any new update?

[Bexsieh in reply to Doglover276]

They transferred her to the Walton hospital in Liverpool which is a specialist neurological hospital as she still keeps having seizures, they've tried a few things but no luck. Just today they put her into deep sedation with Thiopental to rest more of her brain and try to achieve some specific burst suppression rate! I think that's aiming to stop the seizures. Thell keep her like this for 24-48 hours then see where we are from there!

[Doglover276]

praying for the best! Keep us posted ♥️

[Doglover276]

hi there … coming back to see how your partner’s mother is doing. Still keeping her in my thoughts. 🤍

[Bexsieh in reply to Doglover276]

Hi, thanks so much for checking on. The Thiropental sedation helped but not completely, they then had her on ketamine for a day or so. She is out of status epilepticus but still has an abnormal EEG (anterior posterior gradient is reversed and eptiform spikes). She has been off all sedation since 3rd July and we are now just waiting to see if she will wake up. We had an end of life conversation on 3rd but then another specialist said she may just need more time!On Saturday she started opening her eyes but not tracking etc. so could just be a reflex. She has been opening her eyes slightly periodically (seems to be a trend of later in the day), so we are just waiting and hoping for more progress! Xx

[Doglover276]

As you read in my post, my mom was the same and truly did just need time! She started with just opening her eyes, then tracking, then nodding and coming around a little more. I’m praying for progress for you all! I keep saying I know my mom is there she just needs time. I hope that is the case for us both ♥️ will continue to think and pray for you.