Temporal lobe stimulation, endorphins, hypoxia, or something else?
I discounted near-death experiences until 20 years ago when I cared for a 7-year-old boy with asthma. He was receiving maximal doses of steroids and salbutamol and we were poised to intubate, but his oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were reasonable and he was not acidotic. His blood pressure and electrolyte and blood sugar levels were normal and he was otherwise healthy, and not taking any other medications.
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