Coma is a medical emergency when the sufferer is unconscious in a certain period. The unconscious due to declining activity in the brain triggered by several conditions.
The level of awareness of coma patients depends on how much of the brain is still functioning, and this situation usually change over time. When gradually conscious, which initially could not feel the pain will start to feel the pain, then began to realize the situation around, and finally able to communicate. But the chances of recovering from coma will depend on the cause of the coma itself.
The cause of coma
Here are some conditions that can lead to coma, among them:
- Stroke.
- Severe head injury.
- Diabetes.
- Infections of the brain, such as meningitis and encephalitis.
- Poisoning, for example due to carbon monoxide.
- An overdose of alcohol or drugs.
- Lack of oxygen.
- Seizures.
- Tumors in the brain.
- Failure of the liver (hepatic coma).
The physical examination will be conducted by physicians as a first step to diagnose a comma, for example:
- Checking the size of the pupil of the eye.
- Check reflexes and movement, such as movement of the eyes or noises that may be incurred by the patient.
- Checking for signs of injury to the head.
- Checking the patient breathing pattern.
- Checking reaction to pain sufferers.
- Medical history of the patient, such as whether she ever suffered from stroke.
- Signs of losing consciousness that looks and how people lose consciousness, for example, whether gradually or suddenly.
- Symptoms before the patient experienced a coma, such as headaches, seizures or vomiting.
- The use of drugs before the comma.
- Behavior of patients before going into a coma.
- Blood tests. Through this examination, things like levels of thyroid hormones, glucose, and electrolytes patients will be examined. The goal is to determine the trigger comma, for example, an overdose of alcohol or drugs, carbon dioxide poisoning, and liver disorders.
- Electroencephalography or EEG. Tests done by measuring the electrical activity in the brain is intended to determine whether the convulsions triggered by a comma.
- MRI scans and CT scans. Through this scanning, a picture of the brain can be seen clearly by the doctor, both the structure of the brain and brain stem. Here the doctor can see if a coma caused by a tumor, stroke, or bleeding within the brain. CT scanning is assisted by a series of X-rays, while the MRI scans use radio waves and a powerful magnet.
- A lumbar puncture. The purpose of this examination is to determine an infection of the nervous system.
The level of awareness of the coma can be determined through a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale. There are three things that are measured on this scale. Each case has points that will be totaled. The sum is then used to determine the level of awareness of one's time in a coma.
The first thing is a verbal response to commands. 0 points in this category means that the patient is not responding. Points 5 as the highest points mean that the patient is awake and able to talk.
The second thing is eye opening. Within this category, a 0 means the patient does not respond. 4 as the highest points means that the patient can open the eyes spontaneously.
The third thing is the response to the movement commands. Here. 0 points is defined as the absence of a response. 6 as the highest points means that patients adhere to the command.
The higher the total score collected from these three categories, there are fewer impaired brain function. Conversely, the lower the total value obtained, the more parts of the brain are damaged and experienced more severe coma. Doctors who treat patients in a coma will add up the value of the Glasgow Coma Scale.
Treatment of coma
Treatment depends on the cause of the coma coma itself. For example, the doctor will prescribe seizure control if the coma caused by seizures. Or the doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the coma caused by an infection of the brain. If necessary, support tools, such as a ventilator or a blood transfusion will be paired in patients with coma.
The conclusion is the treatment of coma can be done properly if the results obtained is also an accurate diagnosis. So even with a conscious chance the patient will depend on the results of the treatment itself and the long period of coma.
For example, coma caused by head injury and drug overdose have a higher chance of recovery compared to a coma from lack of oxygen. However, if the head injury patients experienced severe enough to damage the brain, it is not likely the patient will be difficult to consciously or disability when he was unconscious.
Precisely one's time to wake up from a coma can not be predicted by the doctor. But the longer the coma lasts, the better the chance for sufferers conscious will generally be thinner, especially if the coma lasts more than one year.
Recovering from coma
Recovery of consciousness of people who fell into a coma typically does not occur suddenly, but gradually. There are some patients who can be cured of a coma without experiencing the slightest flaw. Others realized, but with the brain or body function decline, and even paralysis.
In the case of people with a disability after the comma, should normally be addressed further with a variety of therapy by experts such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy.
0 Response to "Koma Understanding and Treatment"
Post a Comment