A medically induced coma is a state of brain inactivation and unconsciousness. It is done to prevent the brain from getting damaged any further due to its own recovery mechanism.
This is because the Swelling and other responses that are part of the body’s mending system might occur in the first few days following an injury. However, according to Dr. Marc Mayberg, executive director of the Seattle Neuroscience Institute, such processes can harm` the brain.
A coma is caused in patients who are at high risk of brain injury, whether through physical trauma (as in Giffords’ case, who was shot in the head in 2011), a chemical overdose, or an illness such as meningitis, rabies, or status epilepticus.
Why is a Person Put In a Medically Induced Coma?
Medically induced coma has been used on severely sick patients for at least a quarter-century to place the brain in a state of temporary hibernation to enable time for the brain to recover.
The demand for blood, oxygen, and glucose is theoretically reduced by putting the brain to rest, and time is gained for swelling and pressure to diminish. This may protect the brain from further damage. Sedatives such as pentobarbital or thiopental are commonly used to produce a therapeutic coma. The patient’s brain activity is continuously monitored, and the medication dose is adjusted correspondingly to keep the brain at rest.
Is Medically Induced Coma Safe?
An induced coma, like other medical treatments, has inherent hazards. “One of the known outcomes is an increased risk of infection,” Souter added. Because a coma impairs the cough reflex, which helps drain secretions from the lungs, chest infections are more frequent.
The advent of vivid dreams might be a side effect of a drug-induced coma. This might be the consequence of some external stimulation since some patients can perceive things from outside the body while in a coma. The brain may be attempting to make meaning of the stimulation, which might explain reports of nightmares and even hallucinations in medically induced coma patients.