A simple clinical test could help doctors predict whether a patient is likely to die within 24 hours, with a high degree of accuracy, according to a recent study.
The method is based on controlling the corneal reflex – the eye's automatic response that causes the eyelids to close when the surface of the eye is lightly touched. Researchers found that patients who have lost this reflex are much more likely to die within a day.
The study, published in the journal BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care and led by Dr Jung Hun Kang from South Korea, highlights that identifying the final moment of life remains one of the greatest challenges in palliative care.
The study involved 112 patients with advanced cancer who had a life expectancy of one to two weeks. Nurses checked their corneal reflex several times a day and recorded whether it was normal, impaired, or absent.
The results showed that patients without corneal reflex were over five times more likely to die within 24 hours, while the mortality rate in this group reached over 70%.
Experts explain that the loss of this reflex may be related to weakening of brain function, especially the brainstem, which controls vital functions such as breathing and consciousness.
Researchers emphasize that the test is even more useful when combined with other methods of assessing the patient's condition, such as scales that measure the level of consciousness and sedation.
However, experts warn that the study was conducted on a relatively small group of patients and further research is needed to confirm it on a larger scale.
If fully validated, this test could become an important tool for doctors, helping family members prepare and enabling more peaceful and dignified care in the final moments of life. /GazetaExpress/
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