
Low dose x-rays are used to assess and diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of an ultrasound machine, forming a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. When you arrive at the hospital, emergency room staff will need as much information as possible from family and friends about what happened to the affected person before the coma.An ultrasound is a procedure in which high-energy sound waves are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. If you are with a person who develops symptoms of a coma, call 911 or emergency medical help immediately. Preparing for your appointmentĪ coma is an emergency medical condition.

A person with severe brain damage might have permanent disabilities or never regain consciousness. Sometimes the cause of a coma can be completely reversed, and the affected person regains function. Other treatments might focus on medicines or therapies to address an underlying disease, such as diabetes or liver disease. If the coma is due to seizures, medicines can control seizures. If the coma is the result of drug overdose, health care providers typically give medicines to treat the condition. These may be given even before blood test results return in cases of very low blood sugar or an infection affecting the brain. Emergency responders might give glucose or antibiotics through a vein in the arm. A procedure or medicines to relieve pressure on the brain due to brain swelling might be needed. Treatment depends on the cause of the coma. Providers might give breathing assistance, medicines through a vein and other supportive care. Health care providers typically first check the affected person's airway and help maintain breathing and circulation. This test can determine if seizures might be the cause of a coma.Ī coma is a medical emergency. A low electrical current travels through the electrodes, which record the brain's electrical impulses. This measures the electrical activity inside the brain through small metal discs called electrodes attached to the scalp. MRI scans are particularly useful for examining the brainstem and deep brain structures. An MRI scan can detect bleeding in the brain, brain tissue damaged by an ischemic stroke and other conditions. This uses powerful radio waves and a magnetic field to create a detailed view of the brain. This test is often used to diagnose and determine the cause of a coma. A CT scan can show bleeding in the brain, tumors, strokes and other conditions.
#COMA X RAY SERIES#
This uses a series of X-rays to create a detailed image of the brain. Imaging tests help pinpoint areas of brain injury. During a spinal tap, a health care provider inserts a needle into the spinal canal and collects a small amount of fluid for analysis. Sugar is also called glucose.Ī spinal tap, also known as a lumbar puncture, can check for signs of infections in the nervous system. Squirting cold or warm water into the affected person's ear canals and watching eye reactions.īlood samples typically are taken to check for:.Testing reflexive eye movements to help determine the cause of the coma and the location of brain damage.Speaking loudly or pressing on the angle of the jaw or nail bed while watching for signs of arousal, such as vocal noises, eyes opening or movement.
#COMA X RAY SKIN#

Checking the affected person's movements and reflexes, response to painful stimuli, and pupil size.
