First aid for coma: the algorithm of actions. What is a coma in humans?

More and more often, lethal outcomes in the world happen due to the fact that not everyone is able to correctly provide first aid to the victim. Being in a state of shock, a man who saw how a man or woman fell next to him and does not move, just stands and looks. And if he immediately took himself in hand and provided the necessary assistance, then as a result, one could save someone's life. It is also important for relatives of seriously ill patients to know what are the symptoms of an exacerbation, what to do in this or that case, to be able to provide timely assistance. Today we will consider a very important topic: what is a coma in a person. Almost everyone should have an idea of how to properly help, what to do to save a person's life.

What is a person's coma?

Coma is a rather serious condition characterized by rapidly developing CNS depression with deep loss of consciousness and lack of response to external influences. In this state, the patient is disrupted by the operation of several body systems: respiratory, cardiovascular and others.

One of the causes of coma development is significant damage to the brain tissue. This can occur due to tissue damage, for example, in trauma or hemorrhage, as well as the presence of serious infectious pathologies, poisoning and other processes in the patient. The first help in coma and clinical death is very important, because it is she who can save the patient life, but the first thing to do is to identify a kind of comatose state and reveal what has provoked it.

Stages of coma

Coma, like many other pathologies in the human body, proceeds in several stages:

• Prekoma. This condition is a precursor of a true coma, can last from a couple of minutes to two hours. At this time, the person's consciousness is confused, he is deafened, his condition changes dramatically, he becomes too sluggish, then some activity awakens, increased excitability. If reflexes are preserved, coordination of movements may be impaired.

• Coma I degree. In this state, all patient reactions to external irritant factors are severely inhibited, contact with the patient is difficult. Muscle tone is increased, the patient's food is able to swallow only the liquid. Tendon reflexes were significantly increased. The pupils' reaction to light is preserved, in rare cases, strabismus can be noticeable.
• Coma 2 degrees. This form is characterized by a stupor, there is no contact with the patient. Pupils do not respond to light, they are narrowed, and reflexes to stimuli are absent. Also, rare chaotic movements, strained limbs or, conversely, relaxed, can be seen, and others. Can be disturbed breathing pathological type, if the coma of the 2nd degree. In rare cases, involuntary emptying of the intestine and bladder may occur.
• Coma 3 degrees. At this stage the person is unconscious, there is no response to external stimuli. There is no reaction of pupils to light. Muscle tone is reduced, there may be convulsions. Body temperature, blood pressure is low, breathing is disturbed. First aid for a coma in this state is very important, otherwise, if you do not stabilize the state, then this stage will go to the transcendent coma.
• Extreme coma (4th degree). In this state, pressure and temperature drop sharply, all reflexes are completely absent. The patient's condition is maintained thanks to the ventilator and parenteral nutrition.

First aid for coma is very important, but it will be more useful if you immediately determine which type of coma is observed in the patient, because there are several.

Diabetic coma

It is most often found in patients with diabetes mellitus. Such a coma can occur in patients with high sugar levels (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia). This condition is caused by a high glucose content in the blood. With diabetic coma, there is a smell of acetone from the mouth. If you correctly diagnose this type of coma, then very quickly you can get a person out of this state.

In this case, you need to immediately measure the blood sugar level, if it is too high, then introduce insulin, and if low, then give the patient to take carbohydrates. And it is better to immediately seek help from a doctor who will observe the patient and be able to help him out of this condition without harm to his health.

Traumatic coma

Most often, it happens in patients who received a brain injury, which caused damage to the brain. From the other types of coma, she is marked by strong vomiting in the precom. First aid for coma of this kind involves taking urgent measures that will help improve blood circulation in the brain and restore its functions.

Meningeal coma

This species develops if there is an intoxication of the brain tissue, it can be triggered by the presence of meningococcal infection. To clarify the diagnosis can be only after the lumbar puncture. In this condition, the patient has a strong headache, he can not lift an elongated leg, and if the head is passively bending forward, an involuntary flexion of the leg in the knee occurs.

Also, a characteristic feature of this type of coma is a rash with areas of necrosis on the skin and mucous membranes. In this case, only qualified doctors can help the patient, so first aid for him is calling an ambulance and hospitalization in the infectious department.

Cerebral coma

It is characteristic of those patients who have brain diseases associated with the presence of neoplasms. A person in a coma feels:

• The strongest headache, which is accompanied by vomiting.
• Patients are increasingly difficult to swallow food, they often choke, can hardly even drink water.

If at this time not to provide first aid, then a coma develops. Also these symptoms can speak of a coma, the cause of which was the brain abscess. The difference is that in the latter case it can be accompanied by inflammatory pathologies, such as tonsillitis, otitis or sinusitis. Help in this case can only the doctor, who by the signs will quickly determine what is the matter, and help the patient.

The Hungry Coma

This species occurs with grade 3 dystrophy, which develops as a result of prolonged fasting. Often this species is found in young people who diet. In the body, a protein deficiency is felt, it performs many functions in the body, so when it is not enough, then practically all organs work incorrectly, the functioning of the brain is depressed.

If this condition develops, then you can observe the following symptoms:

• There are frequent syncope.
• There is general weakness.
• Heart palpitations are increasing.
• A person in a coma feels bad: body temperature and pressure are low, convulsions and even spontaneous urination occur.

In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and in no case should the patient be given food, because the body must be restored gradually.

Epileptic coma

It often develops as a result of a strong convulsive fit. Patients exhibit a characteristic dilatation of the pupils, skin pale, all reflexes are depressed. The tongue often shows signs of bite, almost always there is a spontaneous emptying of the bladder and intestines.

The pressure and temperature decrease, the pulse is rapid. If the condition is aggravated, then the pulse becomes filiform, the breathing from the surface becomes deep. If first aid is not given at a coma, the patient's reflexes disappear, the pressure continues to decrease, and eventually death occurs.

Alcoholic coma

Poisoning with alcohol often leads to an alcoholic coma, it can result in a clinical death. Abuse of alcohol can lead to malfunctioning of organs. Ethyl alcohol deals a serious blow to the work of the brain, it can even lead to a halt in the work of the respiratory system.

There are several stages of alcoholic coma , emergency care for coma at any stage is very important, but with a third especially. First aid in this case is to free the respiratory tract from mucus and vomit. The patient is put on his side and urgently called an ambulance.

Hepatic coma

Improper operation of the liver can lead to the fact that the patient develops a coma, and in that case it is called the hepatic. The cause can be pathologies of this organ of any origin. The physiological mechanism of development of this type of coma is simple: the liver is the main filter of the human body. In those cases when the work of the body is violated, the metabolic products penetrate into the bloodstream, which must have been rendered harmless in the liver. They significantly affect brain cells, which can lead to the development of coma. This species is often accompanied by disorders in the work of the heart, brain edema and general intoxication. Assisting with a coma of this kind - an early appeal to a specialist, if you do not, then in most cases this leads to the death of the patient.

First aid for coma

First aid for a coma is very important, any delay can lead to death. If there is a person in a coma in front of you, then the first thing to do is to examine him fluently. If suddenly it will have a glucometer or insulin, then it says that he is diabetic and, perhaps, he has a diabetic coma, although the child does not have to be with him. The algorithm for assisting adults and children with coma is very similar.

So, a few recommendations that will help to help the patient in a coma:

• It is urgent to restore and maintain adequate breathing: reorganize the respiratory organs, connect the ventilator or make a conicotomy, but this is in rare cases and only with the permission of a specialist.

• Peripheral vein catheterization.
• Restoration and maintenance of adequate blood circulation: if the pressure is low, then intravenously drip a solution of sodium chloride and glucose, and if the pressure is higher than normal, it is corrected by magnesium sulfate. The heart rhythm is normalized by defibrillation. The same is meant first aid in a coma of unclear etiology.
• A catheter is placed in the bladder so that the level of diuresis can be controlled.
• Installation of the probe after intubation of the trachea.

Emergency care for a coma is very important, therefore, in no case should one fall into hysterics, but urgently call an ambulance and do everything possible to alleviate the condition of the patient. Timely assistance provided can save a person's life.