A medical emergency where a person is in a prolonged unconscious state is called a coma. Stroke, brain tumor, traumatic head injury, drug overdose, alcohol intoxication, brain infection, lack of oxygen to the brain, and various other causes can result in a coma. Some of the signs and symptoms of a coma are unresponsive pupils, irregular breathing, and closed eyes.
All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.
A 55-year-old female is in coma with good vital status but eyes are still shut. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor,A 55-year-old female is in coma. Her vital status are fine, but her eyes still shut, and head surgery completed 11 days back. Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. She has significant brain insult in the form of left-sided brain infarct and left-sided brain blood clot or bleeding. She may need surgery to remove one part of the skull and preserve in the abdomen for future reimplantation. Consult a neurosurgeon for a decision abou... Read Full »
My mom is in a coma post-hemorrhagic stroke. Please advise.
Query: Hello doctor, My mother suffered a hemorrhagic stroke a couple of months back. They had to put a tube in her head to drain the fluid, and also put her in a coma. I was told that she would have a slim chance of coming out of this coma. My mom eventually had a shunt put in her head, because the fluid ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The neurological deficit in a patient who suffered from hemorrhagic stroke depends on the areas of the brain affected and the pressure from the edema. The tube in the brain (external ventricular drain or ventriculoperitoneal shunt) are management for that edema pressu... Read Full »
Can a tracheostomy be removed while still in a coma?
Query: Hello doctor, My father is in coma. Tracheostomy has been done. He is off the ventilator, but has coughing problems. His GCS is 7. Is it safe to remove tracheostomy at this stage? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. If his breathing pattern is normal and he is maintaining oxygen saturation in normal limits, he can be considered for tracheostomy closure. But if there is no significant improvement in GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) or if not expected to improve, then better remove the trac... Read Full »
My grandmother is suspected of a brain stroke. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, My 82 year old grandmother is in a coma from the past 15 days. The doctors are suspecting a brain stroke. I am attaching all her reports. When will she come out of the coma? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen all the attached reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Your grandmother has posterior circulation stroke, which has involved very compact structures of the brain (pons, midbrain, and thalamus). These structures of the brain have very co... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, My fiancé met with an accident, which caused a deep forebrain injury. It is been 22 days now, and he is still unconscious. Doctors said that brain swelling is reducing now. Also, he shows small movements like moving his lips, hands, and legs and sometimes stretching his arms too. But the... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query, and understand your concern. I regret to say that the chances of him getting up, walking, and talking are very less. In other words, if a hundred patients are in this state, less than five will be able to walk and talk. Others will be confined to... Read Full »
My father is comatose and gets therapy. Will he survive?
Query: Hi doctor,My dad is 73 years old. He has hypertension and types 2 diabetes, but he is always under control (he is a very healthy person and does not suffer from obesity), always doing a very detailed check, and it was fine. He started vomiting blood and was admitted to the hospital immediately. They... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I am not sure if you explained what is going on with your dad. From the reports you shared, it seems like he had bleeding in his brain. It is severe enough to put him in a coma. The question I have is why? It could be diabetes or hypertension, but the fact that he was v... Read Full »
My two month old baby is in coma, but could not find the cause for it. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I know this may be too extreme for this site, but I am seeking all the advice I can get. My 2 months old baby was normal, healthy, happy, smiling. One fine day morning, I walked over to get him and noticed abnormal breathing inhaling but not exhaling. His body was solid gray and unresp... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. With the information you have given, I would try to analyze his condition. First, turning gray or blue means the oxygen levels in his body are low. Reasons could be many. From what you mentioned. He seems to be bleeding in the brain, that is why his red blood cells a... Read Full »
Can you go through the reports of my relative's daughter and suggest a treatment plan?
Query: Hello doctor, My relative's daughter, who is 16 years old, met with a car accident. She is admitted to the hospital. Please give your suggestions on her case. She is currently undergoing surgery. The below extract was of her case study. The doctors say that the body below her neck is not moving. Can... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand the case scenario. The reason behind her low blood pressure and inability to move all four limbs is actually the cervical spinal cord injury. Surgery is risky because of low blood pressure, but it is possible to operate if the anesthetic team is able to manag... Read Full »
Had surgery for FTP contusion and SDH following a RTA. When will he get conscious?
Query: Hi doctor, My dad is 60 years old. Before 15 days, he met with an accident and was injured on the right side of the head. There was bleeding on both the ears and some cholesterol like thing was there in one ear. We have noticed that, but not sure what it was. We have admitted him in the hospital and... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help you. He is in coma. The time to recovery will be longer and we cannot predict that now. As he is in coma, he can only feel the pain and not touch. Also, he will not be able to... Read Full »
I want to know about my father's prognosis, who is in a coma after a road accident.
Query: Hi doctor, I need some help with the prognosis of my friend's father, who is in a coma due to a road accident, while he was on a bike. He is 76 years old, and his heart stopped, which was resuscitated after some time. His coma score is minimal, and he is in this state from the past 13 days, with... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen all the attached reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The MRI scan is the most important set of images. It shows changes in the hippocampus and thalamus on both sides. This can be due to a condition called as hypoxic encephalopathy, an... Read Full »
Ask a Specialist Now
Get Expert advice/consultation in 3 stepsChat with a Doctor
Starting @ just $59