Here, we present a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) that mimicked brain death. A 66-year-old lady with a medical history of breast cancer (now receiving hormone therapy), hypertension, and hypothyroidism, presented to the emergency department. The patient was admitted to the neuro ICU with absent brainstem and spinal cord responses, concerning for possible brain death. Further evaluation, however, identified the uncommon GBS with respiratory failure. This case emphasizes the need to recognize this severe manifestation of GBS since misinterpreting this as brain death might result in the discontinuation of ventilatory support.
Keywords: false brain death; guillain-barré syndrome (gbs); immunotherapy; quadriparesis; respiratory failure.
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