Sorry been busy at work since last responding.
As far as Neuro assessment, there is a lot an assessment can determine in terms of neurological function. The biggest part of the assessment would be respiratory drive (ability to breath without vent support). If they can reduce the supportive measures of the ventilator, at least to the point to assess spontaneous breaths {ability for him to take a breath without ventilator offering a breath}) then that would indicate that his brain did not take damage to the point of requiring life support. The next biggest assessment would be his alertness, however some patients awake from sedation confused and combative (not all but some), with that said…if he wakes up gently and is able to open his eyes and move his fingers to command (upon request by the nurse or physician) then he would be showing more signs of alertness and less signs of requiring sedation.
If he can be off sedation then tolerate less ventilator support, at that point the physician would do blood work (ABG = arterial blood gas) to assess if he is Oxygenating well on his own.
If he is alert, responding appropriately, and breathing well on his own while on the ventilator…then it’s very likely they would take he tube out his lungs and take him off life support.
Of note…in my experience, Lack of oxygen has nothin todo with lung impairment. However it does have everything todo with neurological impairment.
With that said, they won’t know if he has any long term issues until they take the tube out his mouth (take him off life support). Then he will participate with therapist to assess if he has any dysfunction physically.
Hope this info helps clear any questions