Guide To The Comatose Patient

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"Families are often left bewildered and confused when a loved one is unconscious and unresponsive. They're not sure how to react or what to expect. Will the loved one wake up soon and when? There's tremendous anxiety not knowing what the future may hold for a loved one, including changes in personality or a major disability. During times such as these, families need extraordinary support and authentic information. Written with a clear purpose in mind, Guide to the comatose patient offers information and advice to families working through the upredictability of acute brain injuries resulting in coma. Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, M.D., is a neurointensivist at Mayo Clinic and professor of neurology with an expertise in acute brain injury and coma. He explains the many causes of coma, the different stages of unconsciousness, what physicians look for when examining a patient who's comatose, and how coma is treated and managed. Coma can take several paths, bringing relief to families when recovery is quick and complete and producing continued anguish when there's no change or the situation worsens. In this novel book Dr. Wijdicks offers his insights, based on years of experience, to help families understand why it's difficult to predict the outcomes of brain injuries and coma. He also discusses what can be expected as time goes on and factors to consider when having to make important decisions regarding treatment, including a transition to palliative care. Guide to the comatose patient is a serious attempt to provide answers to complex questions and to offer guidance and reassurance." -- Back cover