How long do stroke victims stay in a coma

If the patient is having difficulty breathing, they may be placed on a respirator while the underlying cause is treated. If there is an underlying illness, or poisoning, then treatment will be directed at the underlying cause. Intravenous fluids or blood and other supportive care must be provided as needed. For example, this could involve providing adequate nutrition, and preventing infection e. In the longer term, healthcare staff will give supportive treatment on a hospital ward.

A person in a coma may become restless, requiring care to prevent them from hurting themselves or attempting to pull on tubes or dressings. In these instances, medicine may be given to calm the patient. Side rails on the bed should be kept up to prevent the patient from falling. While not empirically validated, families have reported benefits from arousal regimes, such as those implemented by Dr Ted Freeman eg Coma Arousal Therapy.

The therapy involves family members taking the patient through a regimen of controlled auditory, visual and physical stimulation for up to six hours a day, every day. Comas can last from days to weeks while some severe cases have lasted several years.

Recovery depends, to a considerable extent, on the original cause of the coma and on the severity of any brain damage. They may be very agitated and confused to begin with. Some people will make a full recovery and be completely unaffected by the coma. Others will have disabilities caused by the damage to their brain. They may need physiotherapy , occupational therapy and psychological assessment and support during a period of rehabilitation, and may need care for the rest of their lives.

The chances of someone recovering from a coma largely depend on the severity and cause of their brain injury, their age and how long they've been in a coma. But it's impossible to accurately predict whether the person will eventually recover, how long the coma will last and whether they'll have any long-term problems.

For further information and support from healthcare professionals and the families of people in a coma, you may find the following websites helpful:. Page last reviewed: 06 September Next review due: 06 September What is a coma? Caring for and monitoring a person in a coma Doctors assess a person's level of consciousness using a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale on Headway's website.

The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses 3 things: eye opening — a score of 1 means no eye opening, and 4 means opens eyes spontaneously verbal response to a command — a score of 1 means no response, and 5 means alert and replying appropriately voluntary movements in response to a command — a score of 1 means no response, and 6 means obeys commands Most people in a coma will have a total score of 8 or less.

When a stroke occurs, it can increase intracranial pressure, especially during a hemorrhagic stroke where blood begins to fill the areas between the brain and the skull. Swelling in the brain , or cerebral edema, is thought to increase the risk of coma after stroke. Sometimes surgery is required to fix the stroke, and it is possible for a coma to occur after the surgery is done.

First, massive strokes may result in coma due to the significant impact on the brain. They are more likely to result in swelling, intracranial pressure, and the need for surgery, which can result in coma. Second, part of the brainstem houses the Reticular Activating System RAS which controls our arousal states, including waking and sleeping. According to Dr. Alejandro Rabinstein , damage to the RAS caused by a stroke can lead to coma.

One explanation is that, in order for a person to be awake, the RAS and at least one brain hemisphere must be functioning. This does not mean that only massive stroke and brain stem stroke can lead to coma, but these types of stroke seem to carry a higher risk. Every stroke is different, which means that every stroke will lead to different outcomes. Quick summary : Coma is more common after a massive stroke or brain stem stroke.

A coma can last several days to several weeks. In severe cases, it can last for years. Previously, experts thought that individuals in long-term comas could not recover. However, recent research suggests that late recovery is possible thanks to the remarkable plasticity of the human brain. If a patient recovers from a coma, they may regain consciousness slowly, moving through the stages of coma including a vegetative state and minimally conscious state.

The eyes may regain movement first before other voluntary responses slowly appear. There is no doubt that waiting for a loved one to wake up from a coma can be distressing. The uncertainty can create anxiety and stress, making it important for loved ones to seek their own support during this time. The good news is that there are steps you can take to maximize chances of recovery for your loved on in a stroke-induced coma.

We will discuss those steps next. Quick summary : Coma can last several days to several weeks. Recovery is possible in some cases, but overall, there will be new challenges to face that the victim cannot deal with alone. By understanding what surrounds a massive stroke, anyone can become an emotional rock for a survivor to lean on. No matter how temporary or long-term the difficulties may be, simply providing care and being compassionate toward survivors can make all the difference in terms of boosting their morale.

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or immediately. Reliance on any information provided by the Saebo website is solely at your own risk.

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