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What is a coma? — A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness. A person in a coma:
●Looks like they are asleep
●Cannot be woken up
●Cannot move on their own
●Does not respond to pain or react when spoken to, touched, or shaken
People in a coma sometimes twitch, move a hand or finger, or make faces or sounds, but that does not mean they are aware, awake, or in control.
What causes a coma? — A coma can be caused by anything that disrupts normal brain function. Some of the most common causes include:
●Head injury
●Stroke or bleeding in the brain
●Brain tumors
●Very low blood sugar or other chemical imbalances in the body
●Poisoning, or drug or alcohol overdose
●Lack of oxygen or blood to brain, which could happen if a person's heart stopped or the person almost drowned
●Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis
●Seizures
How do doctors find the cause of a coma? — If a person is unconscious, their doctors and nurses will do an exam to see how the person responds to touch and pain, and to see how the person's eyes respond to light. Then, they will order tests, such as:
●Blood tests
●Imaging tests of the brain – These tests create pictures of the brain and can show if any parts of the brain are damaged. Examples of these tests include CT scans and MRIs.
●EEG – EEG stands for "electroencephalogram." It is a test that measures the electrical activity in the brain. It can measure brain waves and shows whether a person is asleep or unconscious and whether they are having seizures.
●Lumbar puncture (also called a "spinal tap") – For this test, a doctor puts a thin needle into the person's lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The spinal fluid goes to the lab for tests.
How is a coma treated? — The only way to get a person out of a coma is to reverse the condition that caused it. That is not always possible. For some conditions, treatment needs to be given right away to prevent death and permanent brain damage.
When a person is in a coma, doctors use machines to monitor their "vital signs." These include breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. That way, the medical team can respond right away if anything goes wrong. Some people who are in a coma need to be put on a machine that breathes for them, called a "ventilator."
People in a coma also:
●Get medicines to help control basic body functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature
●Get fed through a thin tube that goes into a vein (called an "IV") or through a stomach tube
●Get moved every so often so that they do not develop sores on their body
●Have routine blood tests done often, so the doctors and nurses can look for signs of infection or other problems
●Have their reflexes and responses to pain checked every so often
●Have their temperature checked
How long can a coma last? — Most people who are in a coma come out of it in 2 to 4 weeks. Coma is not a permanent condition and does not usually last more than several weeks. Patients either recover completely or partially, or die.
Some people with severe brain injury transition from a coma to something called a "persistent vegetative state." People in a persistent vegetative state have brain activity that suggests they go to sleep and wake up but otherwise seem like they are in a coma.
Patient education: Closed head injury (The Basics)
Patient education: Pressure sores (The Basics)
Patient education: Advance directives (The Basics)
Patient education: Medical care during advanced illness (The Basics)