• April 24, 2024

Recall that the seven times champion "Formula 1" Michael Schumacher he is still admitted to a Swiss hospital, due to head trauma and diffuse cerebral edema caused by a serious impact after a fall while skiing. In the case of Schumacher It was necessary to induce a coma through sedation to reduce intracranial pressure.

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According to the doctor Jesus Porta , head of Integral Unit of Neurology of the Clinic La Luz (Madrid), serious traumatic brain injuries, such as the German pilot, have a mortality rate of up to 40% and, among those who survive, the sequelae range from staying in a vegetative state to, at best, safe sequelae that They can be cognitive and physical.

Solve your doubts!

What does induced coma mean? The specialists of the German Clinic of Chile , like the doctor José Montes , of the Intensive care unit , explain that during the induced coma a patient is sedated and the brain is put to "sleep", while its activity is monitored. This medical protocol is performed in order to protect the brain and give the body time to recover, since in this state, the organ needs less blood, oxygen and glucose.

Why is this measure taken? Induced coma is used when a pathology or brain injury causes an increase in intracranial pressure, "so that the patient gets used to a mechanical ventilation that will last a long time, or because it needs not to move or cough", add Montes .

How long can a person live in an induced coma?

The time that a person can be kept in an induced or pharmacological coma, the expert points out, will depend on the recovery of the patient himself and the cause that led him to induce him into coma. They can be several days or even months.

In the case of serious illnesses, the patient is only awakened when the parameters of ventilation, oxygenation and infection improve. That is, it is removed from that state when the pathology that caused it has been overcome.

The specialist of the German Clinic of Chile ensures that the neurological sequelae of this state can be very serious. Therefore, it is not advisable to apply it to any person or for a long time, unless it is strictly necessary, as in cases of serious pathologies where there is no other alternative.

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