The process of waking up a patient in a shallow coma

Light coma is a type of coma with relatively mild symptoms. For patients in a light coma, as long as certain nursing care is done and treatment is persisted, the patient will wake up. However, there are still many things that need attention when treating and caring for patients in a shallow coma. Below we will introduce in detail the causes, clinical manifestations and treatment principles of shallow coma.

1. Causes and common diseases

Shallow coma is seen in various febrile diseases, poisoning, etc. When it develops to a certain extent, delirium tremens and coma will occur. Febrile diseases that are related to the brain include encephalitis, meningitis, rabies, etc.; pneumonia and typhoid fever that cause unconsciousness due to high fever; tetanus that causes unconsciousness after convulsions, etc. Poisoning, severe diabetes, severe liver disease, uremia with renal insufficiency, severe emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, etc., which cause accumulation of metabolic products in the body and lead to unconsciousness. Poisoning by alcohol, carbon monoxide, hypnotic drugs, and the recent photochemical smog are also causes of confusion. Confusion caused immediately after trauma, but loss of consciousness caused by subdural hematoma after several days or weeks, is easy to misdiagnose, so special attention should be paid. Children suffering from acetonemia with diarrhea and vomiting and toxic bacillary dysentery may develop confusion.

2. Clinical manifestations

Light coma means that there is a response to strong stimulation, but there may be less unconscious activity, and abdominal wall radiation disappears, but corneal radiation, light reflex, cough reflex, swallowing reflex, and tendon reflex exist. Inhibition is at the cortical level.

3. Treatment principles

Mainly treat the primary disease and prevent it from developing into a deep coma. When a person who is suspected to be unconscious suddenly appears around you, the easiest way is to touch his/her cornea lightly with a cotton wick. A normal person or a person in a light coma will blink, but a person in a deep coma will have no reaction. When a coma is confirmed, the person should be escorted to the hospital for emergency treatment as soon as possible. When escorting the person to the hospital, pay attention to the following points:

1. Make the unconscious person lie flat with his head tilted to one side to keep the airway open.

2. If the unconscious person has removable dentures, they should be removed immediately to prevent them from accidentally entering the trachea.

3. Make sure to keep the unconscious person warm to prevent him from catching cold.

4. Closely observe changes in the patient's condition and frequently call the unconscious person to understand his or her state of consciousness. For the restless injured, strengthen protection to prevent accidental injuries.

5. For those who have been injured, provide relevant first aid measures.