A medically induced coma is where a drug is administered until a specific brain pattern is shown on an EEG (electroencephalogram), which is a monitor that displays the brain waves of the patient. This is done to provide protection to the brain, and the brain goes into a state similar to individuals who have suffered a brain injury and are in a coma. The purpose of this is to provide protection, especially after a brain injury is sustained. The injury alters the metabolism of the brain causing certain areas to have difficulty with blood flow. By reducing the amount of energy required in those affected areas of the brain, there is a chance that the medically induced coma would assist in the healing of the brain and reduction of the swelling. The beneficial component of the medically induced coma is that it is reversible therefore once the drugs are removed then the individual can come back.

The drugs used cause blood pressure to drastically reduce therefore other medications are required to ensure the pressure does not drop. The purpose is to protect the brain however all areas of the brain are not getting the blood that is required.There is a specific duration that the coma can be administered because it also takes time for the body to eliminate the drugs if they accumulate over time it can take the body much longer to recover. The injury determines how long a patient will remain in the coma, in some cases it can be days to even months. The progression of the individual is also a determinant, the doctors strive to ensure that the person recovers in the least amount of time. If a patient shows signs of improvement, the drugs are reduced to see the level of function the patient has. A medically induced coma is much more common than you think, essentially when someone is put under anesthesia in an operating room they are going into a reversible coma just with a much milder dosage.

Common compilations that can occur:

• Blood Clots
• Pneumonia and other lung infections
• Weakness from immobility
• Hallucinations
• Nightmares
• Severe Cough

A common issue is that it can be difficult to differentiate between the complications of the coma or the complications from the brain injury itself. A medically induced coma is usual the left step doctors take if other treatments don’t work. Underlying brain trauma may be present once the individual awakens. The longer a patient is in the coma the longer it will take them to recover functions that may have been lost.

Propofol or a barbiturate (pentobarbital or thiopental) are the drugs used to induce a coma. They are administered through an infusion pump in observed dosages. They take the patient from general anesthesiology to a deep coma state. Chest infections are common because the coma impacts the cough reflex to ensure secret ions are clear from the lungs. Barbiturates have also been assumed to negatively impact the immune response. Antibiotics are also not recommended because the body would develop antibiotic resistance.

Despite the severe risks and complications that come with a medically induced coma, it is usually only recommended as a last resort to restore the function of the brain in an injured patient. Monitoring technology has also greatly improved in the past few years, which reduces the risks of a medically induced coma because now the monitoring can be done on laptops in a much more efficient manner.