An 18-Year-Old Man Is on Mechanical Ventilation After Sustaining Severe

An 18-year-old man is on mechanical ventilation after sustaining severe head trauma in a motor vehicle collision.  The patient is unresponsive to various stimuli.  Blood pressure is 108/60 mm Hg and heart rate is 110/min.  After monitoring the patient for 24 hours, the physician decides to do a bedside assessment of brain death.  Which of the following can be observed in a patient with brain death?

A) Deep tendon reflexes
B) Heart rate acceleration after atropine injection
C) Oculovestibular reaction
D) Pupillary light reaction
E) Spontaneous respiration at PaCO₂ = 70 mm Hg

Correct Answer:

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