A 7 year old girl fell from a high balcony. The news reports that the doctors put her into a medically induced coma.She had some head and some internal injuries. What was the purpose of putting her into a coma? For how long would she be in this coma? What effect does it have on her recovery and treatment ?

One advantage is that it would keep her immobile. She may have a halo on that would require little or no head movement. Try imagining a 7 year-old
staying still for a week or two.

Another possibility is that I assume that a patient in a coma wouldn't be stressed, thus reducing internal activity. Look at it as the ultimate of the bed rest that movie doctors so often prescribe.

All that is just my guess. I certainly have no medical expertise, and all my comas were self-induced.

What's A 'Medically Induced Coma?' - CBS News
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Coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness in which the brain is functioning at its lowest level of alertness. Under certain circumstances, doctors may induce a temporary coma using a controlled dose of barbiturate drug. This is referred to as a drug-induced coma or medically induced coma.

Drug-induced coma may be used to protect the brain following major brain surgery or for prolonged seizures. It may also be used to control brain swelling (intracranial hypertension) caused by a brain injury — such as due to head trauma, stroke or infection. However, such use is controversial.

Drug-induced comas are used only when conventional therapy to relieve brain swelling has failed. Barbiturates reduce brain activity, which allows the brain the time it needs to heal. But this potential benefit must be weighed against potential serious complications of the treatment, such as pneumonia. - Mayo Clinic

My girlfriend's daughter was in a car accident a few years ago. (You can read about it here ). They put Carissa in a coma. They didn't want any blood going to her brain. Even when you move your fingers, that creates brain activity. The doctors want the head injury to heal. I have actually seen this first hand. Carissa is doing well. She wanted to be on her own and is now in an assisted living facility. She still in therapy. A lot of her memory is still gone, but she is lucky to be alive. I think the medically induced coma saved her life.

This is the first time I have told this to anyone outside my family circle in over 10 years.
As some of you have read my Profile/Homepage I was involved in a Serious traffic accident and I'm told that I was Hurled through the Windshield of a delivery van, Breaking my wrists and Nose Badly also lacerating my face badly and After the Op to Fix my nose I developed Pneumonia and Was still in Pain then I developed Breathing Problems and I was also told I also Had to be resuscitated ,Shocked and Given the Last Rites
Comment :Its a Rare person that come back from that

So I had another Op to insert a Breathing tupe in My Neck in all of this, then I was put in a coma for 2? weeks, then I woke up and only then I realised something had Happened...Last Memory Coming Home Tired (from Work) and falling asleep on the Kitchen table .Then a 3 week BLANK !

Had 2 more operations since on my Hands.
Majority of fingers still Distorted. only my right thumb and left index finger look "normal"

Spent over 4 months in hospital

Thank you for sharing your story Bedstor. We are lucky to have you here with us. Carissa also had a breathing tube when she placed in the coma. The more I hear about medically induced comas, the more I believe the procedure saves lives.


Fred,

If you hear anymore about the little girl, please post. I'd like to know how she is doing.

quote:

Originally posted by clarebear:

Fred,

If you hear anymore about the little girl, please post. I'd like to know how she is doing.

She is in the news because of the drama of the case.She is English.Her family were on holiday by the sea in Majorca, Spain. She was found fallen from a fifth floor balcony of their hotel. What was odd was that her mother had been seen leaving the hotel soon after the girl fell.The father and the siblings were in the suite but she was nowhere to be found. The police soon saw that the little girl could not have clambered over the balcony unaided. The wall was too high for her.There was an immediate full search for the mother

The next day the mother was found drowned in the sea.The police investigation continues.

And the girl? She is stable and is expected to recover fully.

Could you please post a link? I didn't hear about it here in the US.

quote:

Originally posted by clarebear:
Could you please post a link? I didn't hear about it here in the US.

Try this:

Majorca fall

The site gives the history of the story, too: see its sidebar for other links

quote:

Orignally posted by FredPuli:
What was the purpose of putting her into a coma?

It's been known for a long time that high-dose barbiturates lower cerebral metabolism, cerebral oxygen consumption, and cerebral blood flow. All these factors are important in managing injured and swollen brain tissue.

In the early 1980s barbiturate-induced coma was first attempted to maximize cerebral recovery in head injury (focal ischemia) and asphyxiation (global ischemia). It was an immediate success in many but not all patients.

Induced coma can, at the very least, buy some time for other treatments. And the deep sedation can be predictably reversed when desired for evaluation of actual neurologic status.

Fred...a medically induced coma can help the brain heal, when a head injury is present...much as the others have said.

I read your link about the story, hadn't heard about it before - my heart goes out to this little girl and her family. I'll be interested to see what is found out, whether the mother was abducted or what?

I have a really hard time (being a mother), seeing instances of mothers hurting their children. I'm sure our other mothers would agree.