Brain Death?

Hey all,

Somehow the topic on what happens to our bodies after death came up today with a friend and myself. He said he saw somewhere that the brain continues to send signals even after biological death, and the those singals continue for up to a month after death. I am wonder if this is true, and how this is possible. I would think that after say one day that the brain would be completely dead.

Nick

[EricaCCRN]

Tell your friend to recall basic CPR when they tell you that the brain can only survive 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen. I don't see the synapses firin' one month after death. Geesh. Pleez tell me this dude isn't a nurse.

[nrw350]

he is not, but he is also an Eagle scout with first and life saving merit badges.

Nick

PS: Any other comments on the subject?

[OrthoNutter]

I think he's got himself a little confused.....the heart can function independently of the brain for a limited amount of time. That's why we have organ donors - their organs can be kept functional even once the brain is, pardon my frankness, kaput. It just doesn't work the other way around....maybe on a spiritual level, depending on your religion, the soul may linger but the brain continuing to function beyond "dead as a doornail, kicked the bucket, gone to eternal care" death?? That'd have to take something pretty spectacular. The brain needs oxygen to function. Without respiration or cardiac function, oxygen supply to the brain is depleted and you die within minutes. Unless resus is started, then you are dead - all of you. I'm pretty sure they would have covered this in a first aid course, or perhaps the instructors believe that people would have more common sense.

[nrw350]

I have no idea. He just said he saw it on TV sometime ago.

Nick

[NurseDennie, BSN, RN]

I have no idea. He just said he saw it on TV sometime ago.

Ah. Well. There you have it.

:chuckle

Love

Dennie

[OrthoNutter]

Figures...lol Why didn't I realise that everything on TV is taken as gospel....

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by NurseDennie

Ah. Well. There you have it.

:chuckle

Heather

[live4today, RN]

Life begins with oxygen....no oxygen...no life...PERIOD!!! :kiss

The heart cannot function without oxygen. The brain cannot function without oxygen. Take the breath out of the body...it becomes lifeless. Breathe breath into the body...hence CPR that calls for breathing and pumping action on the heart to get the oxygen pumping through the body, and hopefully jumpstart the heart's pulse. Plain and simple.......IMHO. :)

[l.rae]

originally posted by nrw350

hey all,

somehow the topic on what happens to our bodies after death came up today with a friend and myself. he said he saw somewhere that the brain continues to send signals even after biological death, and the those singals continue for up to a month after death. i am wonder if this is true, and how this is possible. i would think that after say one day that the brain would be completely dead.

nick

nick, it's true, don't believe anything else you read here cause l actually see these people all the time.....as er pts where l work......l swear...they are brain dead......:roll ....lr

[donmurray]

BWAAAAHAHAHAHAhaaaa!

[nrw350]

I felt it was weird when I was pondering about all this because last april 11th I was a pal-bearer for my uncle who died of a massive myocardial infraction/infarction. I can not imagine the human body continuing to have some functions after death. CREEPY!!!

Nick