Can Comatose Patients Undergo Surgery?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and considerations of performing surgery on patients who are in a comatose state. It touches on medical reasoning, potential complications, and the implications of anesthesia in such cases.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that surgery can be performed on comatose patients, citing examples such as surgeries following head injuries.
  • Others express concern about the medical implications, including the monitoring of consciousness levels and the risk of pain awareness during surgery.
  • A participant questions the absence of information regarding surgical procedures for comatose patients in a referenced Wikipedia article.
  • Another participant challenges this claim, stating that the Wikipedia article does indeed address the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specifics of performing surgery on comatose patients, with multiple viewpoints and concerns expressed regarding the practice.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the definitions of coma and the specific medical conditions under discussion, as well as the varying interpretations of the referenced Wikipedia content.

prashantakerkar
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coma

Can Surgery be done for a patient who is in Coma?

If no, What is the medical reason ?

Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar
 
Biology news on Phys.org
prashantakerkar said:
Can Surgery be done for a patient who is in Coma?

Yes.
 
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prashantakerkar said:
Can Surgery be done for a patient who is in Coma?

If no, What is the medical reason ?
As @Drakkith says, yes. Do you have a particular condition or situation in mind? What prompts this question?
 
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Thanks.

As I check in wiki regarding coma, they haven't mentioned content for surgery in coma condition.

That was the reason for asking.

Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar
 
It can certainly be done and frequently is, for example following head injuries. It can complicate the job of the anaesthetist who is responsible monitoring the level of consciousness and of course the risk of awareness of pain, but if you think about it all general anaesthesia involves inducing a reversible coma.
 
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prashantakerkar said:
As I check in wiki regarding coma, they haven't mentioned content for surgery in coma condition.
Yes they did.
 

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