What are the risks of medically-induced comas?

Question

Kali Dayton,DNP,AGACNP · Answer

Listen, medically induced comas can be unavoidable for certain patients in the ICU, but for many to most patients that are intubated on ventilators for various reasons, they can and should be awake and mobile because medically induced comas can be dangerous. They increase the risks of dying in and after the ICU, bed sores, infections. They have a massive loss of muscle mass, which can lead them to later need a tracheostomy and days to weeks longer on the ventilator, extensive rehabilitation, relearning how to sit, stand, walk, swallow. They also have this brain disruption from the sedation that can cause ICU delirium, which is sometimes called acute brain failure. This disruption, this damage that's happening to the brain can cause patients to hallucinate and have traumatizing and graphic vivid realities that lead to a post ICU PTSD. They also can develop a post ICU dementia where they have long term cognitive impairments. So all of this can cause permanent physical, cognitive and psychological impairments and disabilities. This can lead to a loss of career changes and family dynamics and relationships. So medically induced comas can change your survival, but also your quality of life. Before we start them, we need to ask, is there an actual need for them? Click the link below to learn more.

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"What are the risks of medically-induced comas?"