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Final 8 - 48 hours

  • Sunday, 08 November 2009 02:14

  • Very difficult to rouse from sleep or elicit a response from
  • May have no response or only nonverbal communication (eg, winks, waves, or nods)
  • May seem relaxed and comfortable
  • Usually very minimal or no urine output
  • Reaches a point of unresponsive sleep (coma), which can last from 1 hour to most of the day
  • No longer any involuntary movement during sleep (no fidgets or eye movements)
  • Mouth may slacken and eyes may remain partially open during sleep, as voluntary muscle control is lost
  • Vital signs may be OK until just hours before death
  • Blood pressure may drop significantly
  • Heart rate may be twice-normal (120-180 beats per minute)
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