ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY (DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN)

[Neil Kumar]

ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY (DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN)
My father had a heart failure on April 6th. He lost oxygen for 12 to 15 minutes in his brain. Now he is in coma. He was admiited to  ICU on 6th. He has not come out of coma. Neurologist are not very hopeful of his recovery. They say his brain is damaged due to lack of oxygen. His diagnosis is anoxic brain injury. He has some reflexes his brain stem is OK, His heart rate, blood pressure and breathing is stabilized. He does not respond. He opens his eyes but does not have any cognitive functions.  
I would like to know which hospital can I take him for the best treatment?.  What types of treatment are available for anoxic brain injury?. Is there any chance of recovery?  We all are very worried and anxious. I have some hope.

History
My father had angioplasty surgery at Stanford University in February, 2007. Surgery did not go as well as planned. Doctor punctured the chamber while clearing the clot in artery. Therefore, he was given antinclotting medicine to clot heart. Doctor stopped his anticlotting medicine for the brain which he was taking for stroke.

He had a minor storke in January 2006. He recovered from storke last year. He was taking anticlotting medicine before the angioplasty in February, 2007.

He shows some reflex actions on being moved like opening his eyes (but has blank stare), some blinking, very little finger movement, some yawning & biting movements when tube is put in his mouth. No other movement except a couple of hand & toe movements seen today.He is tube fed & using laxatives. They are trying to keep his heart rate /Oxygen/ breathing stable for now.

As of now 4/18/07 his heart rate is around 48, BP 110/60, Oxygen Saturation 94%. Last two days doctors had suspected swelling in his brain and gave him Mannitol & Decadron. His heart rate is stable now. Stomach is distended and white blood cell is high around 28. They have done an X-ray on his abdomen and have found upper intestine.

[mamta]

Hello Neil ,

Hope your dad is doing  better ,
My Dad is also in COMA since the 7th of April 2007 after an Heart Attack .
The hospital is not doing anything for the Anoxic Brain Injury .We just wanted to know of any place, any thing which could help him .Do your doctors beleive there is hope for your Dad .
My dad has had a trach put in and also feeding tube into his stomach.
He is breathing on his own .But has been getting fever and his blood pressure falls sometimes in the past few days .
Please help with any information.He never had any history of heart related problems .

[johnnybgoode]

Contact the Coma Recovery Association - the number is ( 631 756-1826.  They also have a website.  They can help you find information and resources.

[jfr18]

hello,my mother just recently had cardiac arrest and now suffers from anoxic brain damage /constant vegitable state she also has a trach and feeding tube she is in a coma and does not respond she does however open her eyes whenever somebody will say mom or wake up she bites down and is also said to have pausturing issues from the lack of oxygen she was without medical help for three to five minutes but was without oxygen for 45minutes to an hour the doctors say She has a poor chance      
Of recovery she just recently got of life support and has developed a uti from the cathedire,she has been in the hospital for more then a month now and I was just wondering if anybody could help find a good place that can help my mother and make sure she is being takin care of I just turned seventeen and I'm so confused about all of this one minute were in wal mart the next minute I'm at the er having a docotor tell me my mom has died and come back to life and has a very poor chance of surerving this if you have any answers for me please email me with some information about a safe place for my mom my email is ***@****

[dispy]

Hi, my step-daughter has had a very similar injury during surgery.. Lost oxygen for 30-45 minutes and doc's aren't giving any prognosis for how she will recover. She is responding in same way you describe.. I was wondering how she has responded so far...