Tag: Medically induced coma

In critical care settings, a medically induced coma is a temporary and controlled state of unconsciousness used to protect the brain and allow it to heal from a severe injury or illness [1.2.2]. So, is a medically induced coma the same as a coma? The answer is no; they are fundamentally different in purpose, control, and reversibility [1.2.1, 1.2.5].

A medically induced coma is a critical intervention used to protect the brain from swelling and further injury, often by reducing its metabolic rate by up to 60%. But what is a short term medically induced coma in practice and why is it used?