Problem

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

I need your help.

My friend, Suresh, was a dear and close classmate and friend of mine.

On Saturday the 10th, his daughter was getting married. It was a nice

and uncomplicated affair. At midnight, Suresh sat down to eat some

food. After eating a little, he started feeling dizzy and nauseous. He

said that he would induce vomiting to feel better. He put his fingers

up his throat, but gradually collapsed on the spot.

There were no doctors nearby and nobody attempted any form of

resuscitation. He reached the nearest hospital after 15 minutes. At

that time his heart was in asystole and there were no respiratory

efforts.

He was immediately put on a ventilator and has been on one since then.

His present clinical status is as follows:

There is occasional gasping, approximately once every 2 or 3 hours.

His pupils are fixed and dilated.

His reflexes are lost.

His BP tends to drop suddenly. He is on Dopamine and adrenaline drip

off and on.

The cardiologist opines that his heart is in perfect condition.

Suresh was a non-drinker, non-smoker and had no history of diabetes or

hypertension or any cardiac problems.

My questions are as follows:

The attending doctor has not taken out an EEG since he feels that

clinically he is brain dead, and an EEG would only confirm this. While

as, another friend of mine thinks that as the patient is extremely

rich, and for medico-legal reasons it would be better to document this

with an EEG. Is this necessary?

Another doctor has recommended Encephalobol. I think that that would

be a waste of time and money. However, money is no hurdle in this

case. Will this really help even in an extremely rare case?

Are there any newer drugs, which may be tried with even 0.001 %

possibility of hope? If there are, as I said before, money is no

object. Suresh owns 5 factories. The relatives are ready to spend

exorbitant amounts. You may email me the names, and I can try them out

without any liability on your part.

A scan shows that there is no embolus or thrombosis in the brain

vessels. The attending specialist feels that the asphyxia occurred due

to food in the trachea, as the aspirate showed food particles. But

going by the history, Suresh gradually felt dizzy and nauseous. A

choking patient would be thrashing and struggling. The heart however,

shows no signs of damage. What could be the possible aetiology?

As the patient is extremely rich, should we suspect foul play and

conduct a barrage of toxicological tests / Post mortem? Overtly, there

does not seem to be any such possibility.

I would be extremely grateful, if anyone could advice me. I am at my

wit's end. As his close friend, all his relatives look on me for

advice. With my limited Gynaecological knowledge, I feel very

inadequate.

Thanking you sir, and awaiting your email.

Kishore Shah 1974