comma is deepest level when somebodyunconscious. Patients in a coma can't respond to environment at all.
People in a coma will not move, make sounds, let alone open their eyes, even if they are pinched. In contrast to fainting, which only occurs temporarily, coma sufferers experience loss of consciousness for a long time.
Coma occurs due to damage to one part of the brain, either temporarily or permanently. The causes of brain damage are very diverse, for example stroke, severe head injury, infection, or tumor. Identification of the cause of coma is very important for doctors to determine the steps of treatment.
ReasonComa
Coma occurs due to damage to one part of the brain. The part of the brain that is damaged in a coma patient is the part that regulates a person's consciousness. The damage can occur in the short term or in the long term.
There are several conditions that can cause damage to the brain and lead to a coma, including:
- strokes.
- Serious head injury.
- Blood sugar that is too high or too low.
- Infections of the brain, eg meningitis and encephalitis.
- Poisoning, for example from carbon monoxide or heavy metals.
- Alcohol or drug overdose.
- Lack of oxygen, for example after a heart attack or drowning.
- seizures.
- Tumors in the brain.
- Liver failure (hepatic coma).
- Imbalance of salt levels in the blood.
Symptoms of Coma
The main symptom of coma is a decrease in consciousness which is characterized by loss of the ability to think and not responding to the surrounding environment. People in a coma are unable to move or make sounds, let alone open their eyes.
This condition occurs even though the patient has been given a stimulus, such as being pinched hard. Even if there is a response, the response is only minimal, for example only a small groan when pinched.
A person in a coma can sometimes still breathe and have a regular heart rate. However, often people who are in a coma are already on a breathing apparatus or given heart rate medications.
When to go to the doctor
Coma is an emergency condition that needs to be treated by a doctor immediately. This condition can occur suddenly or gradually. See a doctor immediately if you have an accident, especially if there is a blow to the head.
In addition, regularly check with your doctor if you have a disease that is at risk of causing a coma, such as diabetes.
If you find a person who is unconscious or has decreased consciousness, seek help immediately while providing first aid. Some of the first aid steps that can be taken before medical help arrives are:
- Check for breathing and a pulse in the person's neck, if not breathing or no pulse, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Loosen the clothes.
- If the person is bleeding heavily, cover and apply pressure to the bleeding area so that he doesn't lose too much
Coma Diagnosis
When a patient is brought to the hospital in an unconscious state, doctors will take measures to ensure that his condition is stable. Then the doctor will assess the patient's level of consciousness, namely by:
- Assess if patient can open eyes
- Assess whether the patient can make a sound
- Assess whether the patient can perform the movement
During the examination, the doctor will provide various stimuli, such as light into the eyes, tapping and pressure on certain body parts to assess response, and pain stimulation by pinching the patient.
The doctor will then assign a value adjusted for the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), to determine the patient's level of consciousness. Coma is the lowest value of the level of consciousness.
After that, the doctor will find out the cause of the coma and other abnormalities experienced by the patient, by examining:
- Breath pattern.
- Body temperature.
- Heart rate and blood pressure.
- Signs of a head injury.
- Skin conditions, such as the presence or absence of a rash and a yellow, pale, or bluish color of the skin.
The doctor will also ask for information from the patient's family or people who know his condition before he fell into a coma. Some of the things the doctor will ask are:
- The patient's medical history, for example whether he has ever had diabetes.
- How the patient lost consciousness, whether slowly or suddenly.
- Symptoms before the patient went into a coma, such as headache, seizures, or vomiting.
- Drugs used before the patient is in a coma.
- Behavior of the patient before going into a coma.
To determine the cause of the coma and determine the appropriate treatment, the doctor needs to conduct a more detailed examination. The examination can be in the form of:
MRI and CT scan
Through this scan, a doctor can see a clear picture of the condition of the brain, including the brain stem. Examination through MRI and CT scan was performed to determine the cause of the patient's coma.
Blood test
The patient's thyroid hormone, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels will be checked through a blood test. The goal is to find out any triggers for coma, such as alcohol or drug overdose, electrolyte disturbances, carbon monoxide poisoning, metabolic disorders (such as diabetes), and liver disorders.
Electroencephalography or EEG
This examination is done by measuring the electrical activity in the brain. The EEG examination aims to determine whether the coma is triggered by an electrical disturbance in the brain.
Lumbar puncture
This examination is done to take a sample of spinal cord fluid, by puncturing the gap between the vertebrae in the lower back. From the fluid sample, it can be seen that there is an infection in the spinal cord and brain, which can cause a coma.
Coma Treatment
Patients in a coma will be treated in the ICU, so that their condition can be monitored intensively. During treatment in the ICU, coma sufferers can be fitted with breathing apparatus to maintain their breathing rate.
Patients in a coma will also be put on feeding tubes and IVs to enter nutrients and drugs. In addition, the doctor will also install a heart rate monitor and a urinary catheter.
In addition to supportive treatment as above, coma treatment is also given to treat the cause. Doctors will give antibiotics if the coma occurs due to infection in the brain. Sugar infusions can also be given to treat hypoglycemia.
To reduce swelling in the brain, doctors may perform surgery. If there is a seizure, the doctor will give you anticonvulsant medication.
The chance of a patient's recovery depends on the severity of the cause and the patient's response to treatment. When a patient wakes up from a coma, doctors cannot predict, but the longer the coma lasts, the chances of the patient waking up are generally smaller.
Recover from kgrandma
Recovery of consciousness in a person in a coma usually occurs gradually. There are some patients who can recover completely from a coma without experiencing the slightest disability. Others are awake, but with a decrease in brain function or certain body parts, even paralysis.
Patients who experience disability after a coma must receive further treatment through various therapies, including physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy.
Coma Complications
As a result of lying down for too long, coma sufferers can experience various complications, such as:
- Sores on the back of the body (decubitus ulcers)
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infection
- Deep vein thrombosis
Coma Prevention
The main prevention for coma is treating the disease that puts you at risk for coma. People who suffer from diseases with a risk of coma, such as diabetes or liver disease, need to regularly see a doctor so that their condition can be monitored.
To avoid a coma from a head injury, be careful when walking, working, and driving a vehicle. If you carry out activities or work that are at risk of causing you to fall or be hit, use personal protective equipment according to work safety recommendations.
Drive safely and wear a seat belt if you drive a car, or a helmet if you ride a motorcycle. If you experience a blow to the head, immediately consult a doctor to make sure there is no disturbance in the brain.