What is an artificial coma?

An artificial coma is a condition in which the patient is administered exclusively for medical reasons. This procedure is designed to treat certain diseases and brain injuries.

Artificial coma: is it dangerous?

Of course, like any other procedure, the introduction of patients into this state involves a certain risk. But this kind of coma is a process that is almost completely controlled by doctors. In most cases, patients successfully return to life.

Artificial coma and indications for its conduct

As already mentioned, in such a state of patients are administered exclusively for medical reasons. Typically, a similar procedure is used to treat certain brain damage:

• For example, this method is often used in the presence of extensive cerebral hemorrhages, which are accompanied by severe swelling and compression of tissues.
• In some cases, patients who need a series of complicated surgeries are introduced into an artificial coma - the patient is much easier to tolerate all procedures while in a similar state.
• Sometimes neurosurgeons use this technique, especially if the patient needs complicated surgical treatment. In such cases, the procedure is much easier, as well as the rehabilitation period - the chance of success of the operation is higher.
• In some cases, an artificial coma is used to remove a patient from a severe epileptic status, especially if all other methods of therapy do not work.
• Recently, someone is used to treat rabies. Such a technique is currently in the experimental stage. Nevertheless, recent studies have produced good results. It is worth recalling that until recently, rabies (in the absence of appropriate treatment in the first few days after infection) was not amenable to treatment, it was accompanied by severe brain damage.

Artificial coma: how is the procedure?

To introduce patients into this state, two methods are used:

• The introduction of anesthetics into the blood - barbiturates are used in most cases;
• Gradual cooling of the body to thirty-three degrees (rarely used).

Once again it is worth recalling that this process is controlled by doctors constantly. The work of the circulatory and respiratory systems is maintained with the help of special medications or devices.

During a coma, changes occur in the human body. Used anesthetics slow blood circulation in the brain, resulting in a decrease in the intensity of metabolism, vessels narrowing. Thus, the edema of the nervous tissues gradually disappears, the intracranial pressure decreases . This technique prevents the development of tissue necrosis and gives the body time for natural recovery.

As soon as the main symptoms of the disease or the effects of trauma disappear, the doctor prescribes a series of studies, according to which a decision is made to remove the patient from the condition described above.

Artificial coma: consequences

As already mentioned, this method of treatment involves some risk. Nevertheless, the chances of success are high. After anesthesia, the patient will have to undergo a rehabilitation period. Recovery of normal body functions can take some time. Some people recovered from the disease within a year. During this period, the patient must regularly undergo research and appropriate treatment.