Is It Possible To Recover From Brain Death?

Posted on Fri, 21 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 22 Aug 2015 Answered on

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My two year old nephew drowned about two weeks ago. He has little to no brain activity. We had decided to take him off of life support today. He is breathing on his own, but won't wake up. What does this mean? Is there a chance that he will wake up? What if he never wakes up but continues to breath on his own?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No hope unfoetunately

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.first,I am very sorry about your nephew.
Unfortunately,if there is no brain activity then the patient has no any chance of recovery and there is no any hope. Minor or small brain activity is also almost sign of brain death and this is irreversible process and practically there is no reported cases that anyone recovered after such findings. Breathing is autonomic process which can continue for some time after brain damage but this is not sign of recovery of life in such cases.I am sorry for bad news. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (22 minutes later)

Will he just eventually stop breathing on his own? Or does the doctor do something to help him stop breathing?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Breathing will stop

Detailed Answer:
It will stop eventually and probably in short period,there is no need to do that intervention to affect breathing.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj