Ichabod - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Ichabod

Ichabod Description

Syndrome of imminent death from any chronic cause. The disease name is an acronym for a number of clinical signs used by doctors to predict death in a patient with a long standing incurable disease. As well as being an acronym, the syndrome name may also be derived from the Old Testament daughter-in-law of Eli who, before dying in childbirth, named her son Ichabod, which translates as 'the glory has departed'.

Ichabod Symptom

Immobility - fewer than 20% of patients can stand within two days before death

Confusion and coma - 40% become comatose and 30% confused in the two days before death

Homoeostatic (body function regulation) failure - failure of temperature regulation, blood pressure control and circulation to hands and feet common in last two days before death

Anorexia (loss of appetite) - very common in final week before death

Blood - blood test changes indicative of imminent death

Observation - occasional (rather than regular) observation of facial appearance shows marked deterioration in personality features

Dyspnoea (shortness of breath) - 30% of patients become short of breath in last two days. Irregular respiration very common in last few hours.