8 Questions
What is the definition of death?
The irreversible cessation of life in a previously viable organism
What are the two ways to confirm the cessation of life in an individual?
Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain (the cortex and the brain-stem)
What is somatic death?
The irreversible loss of personality, consciousness, and ability to communicate with the environment, but reflexes and circulatory and respiratory functions may persist.
What is cellular or molecular death?
The cessation of respiration and metabolism of body tissues and their constituent cells, leading to autolysis and decay.
What is brain death, specifically cortical death?
Irreversible coma and failure of spontaneous breathing, leading to hypoxic cardiac arrest and eventually cellular death.
How is somatic or clinical death diagnosed?
Through cessation of circulation and respiration, confirmed by signs such as absent pulsations, undetected blood pressure, absent heart beats, and flat ECG.
What is the significance of the 'physiological window' in organ donation?
It allows for cadaver donor transplant surgery, as the patient is clinically dead but not yet cellularly dead.
What is the importance of auscultation in diagnosing cessation of respiration?
It is used to check for apnea, which is a sign of cessation of respiration.
Study Notes
Nature and Definition of Death
- Death is the irreversible cessation of life in a previously viable organism.
- A dead person is an individual who has sustained:
- Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions.
- Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain (cortex and brain-stem).
Phases of Death
- Somatic death:
- Irreversible loss of personality, consciousness, and ability to communicate with the environment.
- Inability to receive sensory stimuli or initiate voluntary movement.
- Reflexes and circulatory and respiratory functions may persist with artificial support.
- Cellular or molecular death:
- Cessation of respiration and metabolism of body tissues and their constituent cells.
- Followed by autolysis and decay.
- Brain death:
- Cortical death:
- Irreversible coma and failure of spontaneous breathing.
- Hypoxic cardiac arrest inevitably follows within minutes.
- Cortical death:
Diagnosis of Somatic or Clinical Death
- Cessation of circulation:
- Absent pulsations in big arteries (carotid or femoral).
- Undetected blood pressure.
- Absent heart beats.
- Flat ECG on all leads.
- Cessation of respiration:
- Apnea as checked by careful auscultation.
- Severe hypoxia and hypercapnea inconsistent with life in Arterial Blood Gas Analysis.
Learn about the definition and phases of death, including somatic death and cellular or molecular death. Understand the antemortem and postmortem changes that occur.
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