Is comedian Raju Srivastav brain dead? What is this medical condition?

New Delhi: Raju Srivastav, who was shifted to Delhi AIIMS on August 10, reportedly reached the brain dead state. In the latest update by his manager, Rajesh Sharma said the comedian is not declared brain dead but he is now in a coma. It is also reported that his condition is not well. He has swelling in his brain due to medicines and injections.

Sharma added that Raju’s wife Shikha is tense due to the rumours of her husband’s death. It is believed that the comedian can recover from it as all his organs are functioning properly.

What is brain dead?

Brain dead is a medical condition when a person’s brain ceases to function. It happens due to the swelling in the brain and blood flow in the brain also ceases. Owing to this, the brain could not oxygenate the cells, leading to the death of the cells.

Medical experts say it is an irreversible condition when nothing can be done to heal it. Under this condition, one cannot breathe, the heart cannot beat, and the body cannot function. To keep alive the patient, the person is given massive artificial medical measures (such as ventilated support). However, any measure will be temporary.

What is the difference between brain dead and coma?

Coma is a very different medical condition from brain dead. A coma is called a deep state of unconsciousness where a person could not respond to people or the environment around them. In a coma, a patient’s brain can perform basic activities.

The chances of recovery of a person depend on the severity of the injury. Besides, a person in a coma is not considered worthy of donating organs, eyes, or tissues.