What type of brain injury did the veteran suffer due to an endotracheal tube complication?

• A. Anoxic brain injury.
• B. Ischemic brain injury.
• C. Hemorrhagic brain injury.
• D. Diffuse axonal injury.

Answer: (A)

Anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. If an endotracheal tube complication prevents proper ventilation, oxygen delivery to the lungs—and thus to the bloodstream and brain—can drop, leading to a period of brain hypoxia or anoxia. Neurons are highly sensitive to oxygen loss, so even short durations can cause widespread, global brain dysfunction, which is why this mechanism fits the scenario. This differs from ischemic injury, which stems from reduced blood flow rather than a lack of oxygen, from hemorrhagic injury, which involves bleeding into brain tissue, and from diffuse axonal injury, which results from traumatic shear forces damaging axons.