I have a question about responses from an ICU patient. Let me start out by saying that I am a pre-nursing student and this is a personal question. I am not asking for medical advice just some possibilities.
My brother is a pt in an ICU unit, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was reported as non responsive, after CPR administration he was "somewhat stable??" at best. He is breathing with assistance and they have done dialysis (his kidneys function at less than good levels--this is not new) but they are doing that to reduce the amount of fluid etc. He does not seem to respond a great deal, although they did say today he grimaced at pain and did move one of his legs (not at a request he just did) . They are not administering pain meds . at one point today he did open his eyes and seemed to get stiff, his wife was attempting to wash his hair at that time.. we are not sure he was reacting to that or ??
He did have a CT, shows no hemorrage , essentially normal, no bleed etc. They were doing an EEG today. My question is this??
First they told us that he cannot hear us??
I am curious about the reaction, the stiffening of the legs ,opening eyes.. I dont want to be too optimistic or pessimistic but I am thinking it coul djust be the brain firing and not actually a conscious effort on his part to react?? any input would be appreciated.
I am very sorry to hear about your brother in this situation.
But to my understanding, hearing is the last sense to go, so please always, always talk to your brother. If he likes singing or he has a special song, sings to him.
I am not saying the doctors are wrong, but they are not always right.
Specializes in Adult/ped/neonatal/ICU/Trauma ER nurse.
My nice16 years old from England came to visit me and had a car accident 4 years ago and she was resucitated 3 times on the scene and transfered to a trauma center by helicopter with severe head injury broken bones and thoracic trauma including Brain bleed, she was in every support machine and medicine for her B/p and in coma for a week .The doctors told us she will not survived 1 days and she will be in bad shape .
My sister was called to come to Miami and I was so scared but I left the science of medicine and God to work with her ,I always was tough by my old teachers that the hearing is the last sense to leave the body so I encourage myself and my family to always talk to her ,we read magazines,started soft music and called her name many times at day, we told stories ,touch her etc ,she came out slowly from her coma and took her to be better 3 months and in rehab 6 months in England .She is now in excellent shape small attention deficit short memory span but working thru her kindergarten school diploma in England. Pt with Head trauma are unpredictables some will come fast than others and sometimes they either get septic and very sick,it is a cycle for days.Good days and bad days.Maybe he will get better and totally well Be patience make sure he has the best care and doctors and if he does not have a flat EEG or brain dead protocole yet, you can help him by making sure he feels his family at bedside.Love is always an important care. Head injuries as Trauma takes days /month to years but we have the best medicine.If our soldiers in Iraq get better in months I am sure your brother will get the best today.Rehab centers are now the best in the world .Faith and love will be your best friend at the moment .
Nursebarebari
412 Posts
I am very sorry to hear about your brother in this situation.
But to my understanding, hearing is the last sense to go, so please always, always talk to your brother. If he likes singing or he has a special song, sings to him.
I am not saying the doctors are wrong, but they are not always right.
Good luck and may the outcome be good.