Coma/Brain Death
RSSArticles
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Withholding Intubation in Some Acutely Poisoned Coma Patients May Help
In this unblinded, randomized trial of adults presenting with acute poisoning and a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 9, those for whom intubation was withheld unless emergently indicated had decreased intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay and a lower rate of pneumonia.
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Clinicians’ Confusion over Brain Death Criteria Persists
There are inconsistencies between standards and institutional protocols and clinical practice. Inconsistencies can erode clinician and public trust in the determination of death by neurologic criteria. Inconsistencies also can cause false-positive determinations in which a patient is incorrectly determined to be dead. Ethicists should advocate for ensuring clinicians involved in the determination of death by neurologic criteria are equipped with appropriate expertise.