What Is It? The Medically Induced Coma

“Ariel Sharon is coming out of his medically induced coma.”

“The surviving West Virginia coal miner is in a medically induced coma.”

So what, inquiring minds want to know, is a medically induced coma?

In the first of what will be a semi-regular series of posts called "What Is It?", Kiko's House provides the answer:

A medically-induced coma is a temporary state of unconsciousness brought on by a controlled dose of a barbiturate, usually pentobarbital or thiopental. Its purpose is to protect the brain during major brain surgery.

Induced comas are used when conventional therapy to reduce hypertension within the cranial cavity has failed. The barbiturates are used to reduce brain activity as measured by electroencephalography, but cause serious side effects in about 25 percent of all cases, including allergic reactions and damage to the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system.

One of the greatest hazards associated with brain injury is intracranial hypertension from a stroke, as in Sharon’s case, or brain injury, as in the case of Randal McCloy, the only survivor of the Sago Mine explosion. When the brain is injured, fluids accumulate, causing the brain the swell. Because the skull does not expand, in effect the brain becomes compressed.

If the pressure does not abate, oxygenated blood may not reach all areas of the brain. Also, the brain tissue may be forced against hard, bony edges on the interior of the skull. In either case, the brain tissue may die, causing permanent brain damage or death.

Sources: Encyclopedia of Medicine, eNotes.com, American Journal of Health System Pharmacy.

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Got a topic for a future "What Is It?" post? Send your idea it to kikokimba@gmail.com