Induced coma is a deep sedation that is performed to aid in the healing of a very serious patient, such as after a stroke, head trauma, myocardial infarction or lung diseases, such as severe pneumonia, for example.
This type of sedation is performed by medications, such as those used in general anesthesia, and as a result, the person may wake up after hours or days, when the patient recovers or the doctor deems it appropriate. Thus, the induced coma is different from the coma caused by disease, because it cannot be predicted and does not depend on the control of the doctor.
- Induced coma is usually performed in an intensive care environment.
- As it is necessary to use devices that help to breathe.
- As well as extensive monitoring of all vital patient data.
- To avoid complications.
- Such as respiratory arrest.
- Cardiac arrest.
- Reaction to the effect of medicines.
- For example.
Induced coma is a type of deep sleep caused by sedative drugs, it may be necessary when the patient has a very serious or delicate state of health, such as:
In these cases, the coma is induced so that the brain and body are more likely to recover, because the body will save energy by not being active and the person will not feel pain or discomfort due to serious illness.
In cases of serious lung diseases, such as pneumonia, sedation will also facilitate collaboration with the respiratory system, allowing better oxygenation of the organism that has been altered by the disease. Learn more about treatments that help oxygenate your body in case of respiratory failure.
Induced coma is caused by sedative drugs such as midazolam or propofol, administered in controlled doses and injected into a vein, usually in ICU, with an effect that can last for hours, days or weeks, until it is discontinued for clinical improvement. or that your doctor makes clinical assessments.
Awakening time also varies depending on the metabolism of the drug by the person’s body. In addition, the patient’s recovery depends on each case, so if the person survives or has sequelae, it will depend on the type of disease, severity and health conditions of the person, influenced by problems such as age, nutritional conditions, medication. use and severity of the disease.
When in a deep coma, the person is not conscious and therefore does not feel, move or hear, for example. However, there are several levels of sedation, depending on the dose of the drug, so when sedation is milder, it is possible to listen, move or interact, as if they were drowsy.
Because sedation is performed with anesthetic medications, similar to what is used in general anesthesia, some complications may occur, such as:
These complications are avoided by continuous monitoring of vital patient data and constant evaluation by the ICU doctor and nurses. In addition, the health status of a patient requiring an induced coma is generally severe and the risk of sedation is lower than the risk of disease itself.
Learn more about how general anesthesia works and the risks.