what is a medical coma
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- Definition. A coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a variety of problems — traumatic head injury, stroke, brain tumor, drug or alcohol intoxication, or even an underlying illness, such as diabetes or an infection. A coma is a medical emergency.
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What is coma? Coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened; fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound; lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle; and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as being comatose.
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Coma (Medical) Since it scores the level of coma, the Glasgow Coma Scale can be used as a standard method for any healthcare professional, from EMT, paramedic, nurse, or neurosurgeon, to assess change in the patient's mental status over time.
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- In Western medicine coma is understood as a state like sleep, in which individuals are completely unarousable, and unresponsive to external stimulation and to their own inner needs. So called “true coma” of this nature generally persists for two weeks to a month after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
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Coma Coma Overview. A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness in which individuals do not consciously respond to stimuli in their environment. Coma can result from injury such as head trauma, or an underlying illness such as an infection or tumor, or toxins that enter the body. Patients in a coma are unable to think consciously and lack awareness of their surroundings, but they do retain basic life support functions, such as breathing and circulation.
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Diabetic Coma: Causes, What Happens When You go Into a Diabetic Coma? Diabetic coma is a fatal complication that leads to unconsciousness. Any diabetic person with extremely high (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia) level of blood sugar can be affected by diabetic coma. A person who has slipped into diabetic coma will not be able to respond to any physical stimulation except for being alive.
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Understanding and Preventing Diabetic Coma Diabetic coma is a serious, life-threatening complication associated with diabetes. A diabetic coma causes unconsciousness that you cannot awaken from without medical care. Most cases of diabetic coma are attributed to type 1 diabetes.
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This Woman Explains What Itâs Like to Be in a Medically Induced Coma What happens in the brain. A medically induced coma is different from one caused by a trauma. With prolonged unconsciousness after a stroke, infection, or lack of oxygen, the brain is shutting down — and will experience a total “reboot,” slowly learning new skills and responses over time.
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hyperosmolar nonketotic coma Assessment of the patient in a coma includes an evaluation of vital signs, determination of level of consciousness, neuromuscular responses, and reaction of the pupils to light. In most hospitals a standard form is used to measure and record the patient's responses to stimuli in objective terms.
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Glasgow Coma Scale Glasgow Coma Scale. a quick, practical standardized system for assessing the degree of consciousness in the critically ill and for predicting the duration and ultimate outcome of coma, primarily in patients with head injuries.
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Diagnosis If the coma is due to seizures, doctors will administer medications to control seizures. Other treatments may focus on medications or therapies to address an underlying disease, such as diabetes or liver disease. Sometimes the cause of a coma can be completely reversed and the affected person will regain normal function.
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Overview Causes. Many types of problems can cause coma. Some examples are: 1  Traumatic brain injuries. 2  Traumatic brain injuries, often caused by traffic collisions or acts of violence, are common causes of comas. 3  Stroke. 4  Reduced or interrupted blood supply to the brain (stroke), which may be caused by blocked arteries or a burst blood vessel, can result in a coma. 5  Tumors.
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coma vigil [ko´mah] a state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused, even by powerful stimuli. Traumatic brain injuries are the most frequent cause; other causes include severe uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and neurologic conditions. Evaluation of a patient in a coma is comprehensive. The underlying cause should be identified so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
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What are the different types of comas? Best Answer: Types of coma can include: Toxic-metabolic encephalopathy. This is an acute condition of brain dysfunction with symptoms of confusion and/or delirium. The condition is usually reversible. The causes of toxic-metabolic encephalopathy are varied.
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Medically Induced Coma vs. Sedation A medically induced coma is when a patient receives a controlled dose of an anesthetic, typically propofol, pentobarbital or thiopental, to cause a temporary coma or a deep state of unconsciousness.hen do physicians medically induce coma? A patient who is in a medically induced coma has a brain injury with swelling that has not responded to other treatments. When the brain swells it can be life-threatening, as it can constrict blood supply and destroy additional brain tissue.
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What is coma? Coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened; fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound; lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle; and does not initiate voluntary actions.[1] A person in a state of coma is described as being comatose. A distinction is made in the medical community between a real coma and a medically induced coma, the former is a result of circumstances beyond the control of the medical community, while the latter is a means by which medical professionals may allow a patient's injuries to heal in a controlled environment.
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Coma The main symptom of a coma is unconsciousness. A patient in a coma will have no conscious response to external stimuli and may appear to be in a deep sleep. The patient in a coma may exhibit spontaneous body movements. Patients may shake or jerk abnormally, and the eyes may move. If the coma is severe, even basic body functions such as breathing may be affected.
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Medical Definition of Coma Medical Definition of Coma Our Coma (Medical) Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Coma (Medical) Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head trauma, disease, poisoning, or numerous other causes. Coma states are sometimes graded based on the absence or presence of reflexive responses to stimuli. Dementia Slideshow Pictures
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What is stress management? A coma is a prolonged state of unconsciousness. A coma occurs when a part of the brain is damaged, either temporarily or permanently. This damage results in unconsciousness, an inability to awake, and unresponsiveness to stimuli such as pain, sound, and... A coma is a prolonged state of unconsciousness. A coma occurs when a part of the brain is damaged, either temporarily or permanently. This damage results in unconsciousness, an inability to awake, and unresponsiveness to stimuli such as pain, sound, and light. Comas have a number of potential causes. These range from injury or illness to stroke, to tumors, to alcohol and drug abuse. A person who is in a coma is alive but is unable to move at will. They can’t think, speak, or respond to their environment.
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coma vigil a state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused, even by powerful stimuli. Traumatic brain injuries are the most frequent cause; other causes include severe uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and neurologic conditions. Evaluation of a patient in a coma is comprehensive. The underlying cause should be identified so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
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- Coma occurs when the brain does not have enough nutrients. For example, if inadequate amounts of oxygen or blood sugar are delivered to it, the brain can turn off. Trauma, bleeding, or swelling of the brain can affect blood delivery, various poisons can also directly injure the brain, and brain inflammation and infection can also alter mental status and lead to coma.
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Coma By Mayo Clinic Staff. A coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a variety of problems — traumatic head injury, stroke, brain tumor, drug or alcohol intoxication, or even an underlying illness, such as diabetes or an infection. A coma is a medical emergency.
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- Glas·gow Coma Scale. n. A scale for measuring level of consciousness, especially after a head injury, in which scoring is determined by three factors: amount of eye opening, verbal responsiveness, and motor responsiveness.
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What is coma? Coma: Types, Causes, Treatments, Prognosis. A coma is a prolonged state of unconsciousness. During a coma, a person is unresponsive to his or her environment. The person is alive and looks like he or she is sleeping. However, unlike in a deep sleep, the person cannot be awakened by any stimulation, including pain.
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- A severe brain injury is usually defined as a condition where the patient has been in a coma for 6 hours or more, or has PTA of over 24 hours and may require a long period of intensive care or neurosurgery.
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Learn how UpToDate can help you. Myxedema coma is defined as severe hypothyroidism leading to decreased mental status, hypothermia, and other symptoms related to slowing of function in multiple organs. It is a medical emergency with a high mortality rate.