I can’t find any info on the interweb tubes on this. Following a draining procedure for a subdural hematoma, my brother-in-law has been sedated for almost a week now. I imagine that they’d like him to remain relatively calm, but asleep? What’s the purpose of this part of the treatment? Anyone here know? ** Qadgop**?
On the fly, read this: What Is a Medically Induced Coma and Why Is It Used? - Scientific American
Gosh the internet is great…but why don’t you ask his doctor?
The attending doc may not be so accessible as the internet, especially if the OP is not the next of kin.
We’re 8 hours away, is why.
Is medically induced coma ever useful, or ever used, as a form of palliative care for seriously ill (and perhaps terminally ill) patients who are in great suffering that cannot otherwise be alleviated?
Is it legal? Ethical? Effective? Cost-feasible? Ever done?
According to the user comments upon that Scientific American article that Qadgop the Mercotan linked, such a coma is not necessarily blissfully peaceful. Numerous commenters described having, and remembering, horrendous nightmares of indefinite duration.
I can do better than palliative care, how about therapeutic for an untreated rabies? Rabies - Wikipedia
In med school I had a patient with intractable pain from his metastatic cancer. He eventually opted for palliative sedation and spent the last few days of his life on a ketamine drip. So I don’t know about coma but sedation is sometimes done.