From the ancient Greek "coma" is translated as "deep sleep". While a person is in a coma, depression of the nervous system occurs. This is very dangerous, because this process is progressing and the failure of vital organs is possible, for example, respiratory activity may stop. Being in a state of coma, a person ceases to respond to external stimuli and the world around him, he may not have reflexes.
Coma stage
Classifying coma by the degree of its depth, we can distinguish the following types of such a condition:
- Precoma. Being in this state, a person remains conscious, while there is a slight confusion in actions, a violation of coordination. The body functions according to the concomitant disease.
- Coma 1 degree. The reaction of the body is very inhibited even to strong irritants. It is difficult to find contact with the patient, while he can make simple movements, for example, turn in bed. Reflexes persist, but very weakly expressed.
- Coma 2 degrees. The patient is in a deep stage of sleep. Movements are possible, but they are performed spontaneously and in a chaotic manner. The patient does not feel touch, the pupils do not react to light, there is a violation of respiratory function.
- Coma 3 degrees. Deep coma. The patient does not respond to pain, there is completely no reaction of the pupils to light, reflexes are not observed, the temperature is lowered. Violations occur in all body systems.
- Coma 4 degrees. A state from which it is no longer possible to exit. The person does not have reflexes, the pupils are dilated, hypothermia of the body is observed . The patient cannot breathe on his own.
In this article, we will examine in more detail the condition of a person who is in a coma of the penultimate degree.
Coma 3 degrees. Chances of survival
This is a very dangerous condition for human life, in which the body cannot function almost independently. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how long the unconscious state will last. It all depends on the body itself, on the degree of damage to the brain, on the age of the person. Getting out of a coma is quite difficult, as a rule, only about 4% of people are able to overcome this barrier. Moreover, even provided that the person has come to his senses, most likely, he will remain disabled.
If you are in a coma of the third degree and return to consciousness, the recovery process will be very long, especially after such serious complications. As a rule, people learn to talk, sit, read, walk again. The rehabilitation period can take quite a long time: from several months to several years.
According to studies, if in the first 24 hours after the onset of a coma a person does not feel external stimuli and pain, and the pupils do not react to light, then such a patient will die. However, if at least one reaction is present, then the prognosis is more favorable for recovery. It is worth noting that the health of all organs and the age of the patient who has a coma of the 3rd degree has a huge role.
Chances of survival after an accident
About thirty thousand people a year die as a result of an accident and three hundred thousand become their victims. Many of them end up with disabilities. One of the most common consequences of an accident is a head injury, which often causes a coma.
In the event that after an accident for a person’s life, his hardware is necessary, and the patient himself does not have any reflexes and does not respond to pain and other irritants, a coma of the 3rd degree is diagnosed. The chances of survival after the accident, which led to this condition, are negligible. The prognosis for such patients is disappointing, but there is still a chance of a return to life. It all depends on the degree of brain damage due to an accident.
If a coma of degree 3 is diagnosed, the chances of survival depend on the following factors:
- The degree of brain contusion.
- Long-term consequences of head injury.
- Fracture of the base of the skull.
- Fracture of the cranial vault.
- Fracture of the temporal bones.
- Concussion.
- Blood vessel injury.
- Cerebral edema.
Stroke Survival Probability
A stroke is a violation of the blood supply to the brain. It occurs for two reasons. The first is a blockage of blood vessels in the brain, the second is a hemorrhage in the brain.
One of the consequences of cerebrovascular accident is coma (apoplectiform coma). In case of hemorrhage, a coma of the 3rd degree can occur. The chances of surviving a stroke are directly related to age and the extent of the damage. Signs of the onset of this condition:
- Lack of consciousness.
- Change in complexion (becomes crimson).
- Loud breathing.
- Vomiting
- Trouble swallowing.
- Slow heart rate.
- Increased blood pressure.
The duration of a coma depends on a number of factors:
- Coma stage. In the first or second stage, the chances of recovery are very high. In the third or fourth outcome, as a rule, is unfavorable.
- The condition of the body.
- The age of the patient.
- Equipping with necessary equipment.
- Patient care.
Signs of a coma of the third degree with a stroke
This condition has its own distinguishing features:
- Lack of response to pain.
- Pupils do not respond to light stimuli.
- Lack of swallowing reflex.
- Lack of muscle tone.
- Decreased body temperature.
- The impossibility of independent breathing.
- Feces occur uncontrollably.
- The presence of seizures.
As a rule, the prognosis for exit from a coma of the third degree is unfavorable due to the lack of vital signs.
The probability of survival after a coma of a newborn
A child may fall into a coma in the event of a deep disorder of the central nervous system, which is accompanied by loss of consciousness. The following pathological conditions serve as a reason for the development of a coma in a child: renal and liver failure, meningoencephalitis, tumor and brain injury, diabetes mellitus, disturbance of water-electrolyte balance, cerebral hemorrhage, hypoxia during childbirth and hypovolemia.
Newborns are much easier to fall into a coma. It is very scary when a coma of the 3rd degree is diagnosed. The child has a higher chance of survival than older people. This is due to the characteristics of the children's body.
In the case when a coma of the 3rd degree occurs, the newborn has a chance of survival, but, unfortunately, is very small. If the baby manages to get out of a serious condition, serious complications or disability are possible. At the same time, one should not forget about the percentage of children, albeit small, who managed to cope with this without any consequences.
The consequences of a coma
The longer the unconscious state lasts, the more difficult it will be to get out of it and recover. Coma of 3 degrees can occur in all different ways. The consequences, as a rule, depend on the degree of brain damage, the length of time in an unconscious state, the causes that led to a coma, the state of organ health and age. The younger the body, the higher the chances of a favorable outcome. However, doctors rarely make a prognosis for recovery, since such patients are very severe.
Despite the fact that newborns are easier to get out of a coma, the consequences can be the most sad. Doctors immediately warn relatives how dangerous a coma of the 3rd degree is. There are, of course, chances for survival, but at the same time a person can remain a “plant” and never learn to swallow, blink, sit and walk.
For an adult, a prolonged stay in a coma is fraught with the development of amnesia, the inability to move and talk, to eat and defecate independently. Rehabilitation after a deep coma can take from a week to several years. At the same time, recovery may never occur, and a person will remain in a vegetative state until the end of his life, when you can only sleep and breathe on your own, while not reacting to what is happening.
Statistics show that the chance for a full recovery is extremely small, but such events do happen. Most often, a fatal outcome is possible , or in case of exit from a coma, a severe form of disability.
Complications
The main complication after an experienced coma is a violation of the regulatory functions of the central nervous system. Subsequently, vomiting often occurs, which can enter the respiratory tract, and stagnation of urine, which is fraught with rupture of the bladder. Complications apply to the brain. Often, coma leads to respiratory failure, pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest. Often, these complications lead to biological death.
The feasibility of maintaining body functions
Modern medicine allows you to artificially maintain the vital functions of the body for a long time, but often the question arises of the appropriateness of these measures. Such a dilemma arises for relatives when they are informed that brain cells have died, that is, in fact, the person himself. Often, a decision is made to disconnect from artificial life support.