@Keysibuna Diagnosis and operation
Reynolds reported to her physician that she was experiencing symptoms of dizziness, loss of speech and difficulty in moving parts of her body. Her physician referred her to a neurologist and a CAT scan later revealed that Reynolds had a large aneurysm in her brain, close to the brain stem. Because of the difficult position of the aneurysm, Reynolds was predicted to have no chance of survival. As a last resort, Dr. Robert F. Spetzler — a highly skilled neurosurgeon of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona — decided that a unique and rarely performed surgical procedure, known as hypothermic cardiac arrest, was necessary to improve Pam's outcome. During this procedure, also known as a standstill operation, Pam's body temperature was lowered to 60 °F (16 °C), her breathing and heartbeat stopped, and the blood drained from her head. Her eyes were closed with tape and small ear plugs with speakers were placed in her ears. These speakers emitted audible clicks which were used to check the function of the brain stem to ensure that she had a flat EEG — or a non-responsive brain — before the operation proceeded.
The operation was a success and Reynolds recovered completely.
Wikipedia: Pam Reynolds#CriticalThe operation The NDE
7:15 Reynolds is brought into the operating room, still awake. -
Reynolds receives thiopental (also called pentothal although the book actually says penthathol) through IV for general anesthesia. -
Reynolds' body is lifted onto the operating table. Her eyes are taped shut. Small, moulded speakers are inserted into her ears. -
A thermistor is placed deeply into her esophagus to measure core body temperature. EEG electrodes are taped to the head to record cerebral cortical brain activity. -
8:40 Reynolds' entire body, except for her head and groin, is blanketed with sterile drapes.
Wikipedia: Pam Reynolds#Critical