acute subdural hematoma

[alan_wilson]

my friend met with an accident developed acute sdh of clot size 10mm...he is stable ...he is in the icu since 9 days ...up until yesterday he was put in ventilator...they removed the ventilator ....how many days does it usually take to absorb d clot of that size? and he is in sedation since so many days and havent come to conscious since that day but he is not in a comma ....if they lower the sedation will he come to conscious?? or hw many more days will it take for him to recover? please reply at earliest

[philnoir]

Alan, I'm still not going to bite. I cannot tell you when he'll be better, but I do believe in miracles. Keep praying.

Best wishes for your friend's full recovery.

[alan_wilson]

thank you doctor...he is in last semester of engineering and the college starts next month will he be okay by then?

[philnoir]

I understand that you are worried, and for good reason. Again, I cannot tell you how many more days it will take for your friend to come out of the coma. I am not his doctor.

I cannot tell you with any confidence whether or not the hematoma is reabsorbed, but my guess is no, not yet. This is a serious injury and will take time. Healing has no regard for feelings and takes its own time. I'm sure your friend is getting the best care in the ICU.

Prayers promote healing. Continue with your prayers, which are good for both the one prayed for and the one who prays.

Best wishes.

[alan_wilson]

yes doctor we are not allowed to visit him.
Is the clot absorbed by this time?(clot size 10mm)
how more days will it take for a recovery we are very scared and just praying to god!!..

[philnoir]

This is a serious problem. Your doctors don't know, and I certainly don't know, when she'll be able to come back to consciousness.

From your statement, I imagine that your friend is in being maintained in a medically induced coma (MIC), which reduces the energy needed by the brain, and also reduces the blood pressure to minimize any further cranial bleeding. An MIC shuts down the higher brain functions of thinking and reasoning which consume a great deal of the energy targeted to the brain, so that more nutrients get to the injured parts. This helps the brain heal.

The difference between an MIC and a coma is that an MIC is reversible.

If you're allowed to visit your friend, and his doctor's approve, talk to him and hold his hand. He's still in there. The middle and lower brain functions are working to keep his heart beating, and maintain normal homeostatic functions. The emotional centers in the mid-brain are still working, and a gentle, soothing touch is an excellent way to reach them. The speech center lies in the temporal lobe, and may be suppressed by anesthesia, however, it shouldn't hurt to talk to him, and may actually be encouraged. Ask his doctor.

But often people in MIC are restricted from having visitors, or visits may be limited in time, and to immediate family only.

I know the waiting is difficult. Thank you for being there as a friend.

I wish you both the best of everything.