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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM , where we instantly improve the lives of Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can have PEACE OF MIND, real power, real control and so that you can influence decision making fast, even if you’re not a doctor or a nurse in Intensive Care!
This is another episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” and in last week’s episode I answered
“How long does it take to come off a ventilator/ respirator in Intensive Care?”
You can read, watch or listen to the update here.
In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” I want to answer another one of our most frequently asked questions and the question this week is
“AFTER WEANING OFF A VENTILATOR IS IT NORMAL TO BE CONFUSED?”
If your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care, chances are that your loved one has been on a ventilator/ respirator for any period of time and normally what goes hand in hand with ventilation and a breathing tube(endotracheal tube) is that your critically ill loved one is or was in an induced coma.
Furthermore, what also goes hand in hand with your loved one being critically ill in Intensive Care is that you and your Family have millions of questions and not all questions may get answered by the Intensive Care team in a fashion that you may be satisfied with.
What usually also goes hand in hand if your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care is that you and your Family feel frustrated, fearful, stressed, overwhelmed, vulnerable and out of your comfort zone, due to the lack of control, power and influence you experience during this stressful and challenging time.
Moreover, if your critically ill loved one has just been weaned off the ventilator and has come out of the induced coma, they may be confused.
So, if that’s the case there is usually no need to panic, as a prolonged induced coma and mechanical ventilation on a ventilator/respirator can cause confusion, agitation and non- cooperation.
So, let’s shed some more light on the induced coma and ventilation and the side effects of it.
As a rule of thumb, the longer your critically ill loved one is in an induced coma and on a ventilator/ respirator the higher chances are that your critically ill loved one will wake up, come out of the induced coma, gets taken off the ventilator and is confused, agitated and even uncooperative.
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The reasons can be manyfold and are most likely to be found that during the induced coma, sedative drugs such as Propofol or Midazolam(also Hypnovel or Dormicum) and also opiate drugs(pain killer drugs) such as Morphine, Fentanyl or Ketamine are given. The combination of these drugs tend to be pretty “heavy guns” so to speak and they generally do a good job to keep your critically ill loved one comfortable on the ventilator, however by the time your critically ill loved one is “waking up” and is coming out of the induced coma the accumulation of those sedative and pain killer drugs can cause your loved one to be confused, agitated and non- cooperative.
Prolonged surgery and head or brain injuries may delay “waking up” as well
Furthermore, if your critically ill loved one has required prolonged surgery before the induced coma and the Intensive Care admission, the likelihood of your critically ill loved one to be confused, agitated and non- cooperative is increased again.
Also, if your critically ill loved one has had any major brain or head injury, the likelihood and risk for confusion, agitation and non- cooperation is increased again.
Another factor and contributor to confusion, agitation and non- cooperation after your loved one has come out of the induced coma and has been taken off the ventilator/ respirator is that if your loved one is or has been taking drugs and/ or is drinking lots of alcohol that the likelihood and risk of confusion, agitation and non- cooperation is increased due to the likely withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs that your loved one may have used/misused before admission to Intensive Care.
Increased age as another risk factor
The other factor that’s increasing the risk of your loved one being confused, agitated and non-cooperative after an induced coma and after the ventilator and the breathing tube have been removed is their age. Generally speaking, the older your critically ill loved one is the higher the risk of your critically ill loved one that “waking up” is not “straight forward”.
As a rule of thumb and from my experience in more than 15 years critical care nursing experience in three different countries, I would say that if your critically ill loved one is above the age of 70 that they have a higher risk of being confused, agitated and non- cooperation when coming out of the induced coma and when they are coming off the ventilator! If your critically ill loved one falls into the age category above 70, they may be absolutely fine and I’m only saying that age can be a factor for having difficulties in “waking up”.
Moreover what you also need to know is that some of the sedative drugs and opiate drugs(pain killers) such as Midazolam, Morphine and Fentanyl can make your critically ill loved one addicted and the longer your critically ill loved one has been in an induced coma, the higher the risk and the likelihood that your critically ill loved one is going through a withdrawal when coming out of the induced coma. If your critically ill loved one is going through a withdrawal after the induced coma, your critically ill loved one is once again at a higher risk to be confused, agitated and non- cooperative.
Last but not least, you may also want to know how long your critically ill loved one will be confused, agitated and non- cooperative after coming out of the induced coma and after coming off the ventilator?
The answer: It depends.
It depends on a number of factors including how stable or unstable your critically ill loved one is after coming off the ventilator and after coming out of the induced coma. The confusion, agitation and non- cooperation can last from a few days to one or even two weeks. Some Patients may even leave Intensive Care when they are still confused, agitated and non- cooperative.
I know it’s easier said than done, but be patient. Sometimes the key to get through the challenge of having a loved one critically ill in Intensive Care is being patient.
What’s really key though is that you keep asking questions and that you take charge and take control of the situation in order to have control, power and influence, because as you know by now, it’s pretty challenging seeing the Intensive Care team running the show and seeing your critically ill loved one suffer.
How can You leverage your level of power, influence and control whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care?
You’ll get to that all important feeling of power, control and influence when you download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report NOW by entering your email below! In Your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report you’ll learn quickly how to get real power and real control and how you can influence decision making fast, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care! Our FREE reports help you with in-depth insight that you must know whilst your loved one is critically ill or is dying in Intensive Care! Sign up for your FREE membership and download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT now!
In your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT you’ll learn how to speak the “secret” Intensive Care language so that the doctors and the nurses know straight away that you are an insider and that you know and understand what’s really happening in Intensive Care!
In your FREE report you’ll also discover
- How to ask the doctors and the nurses the right questions
- Discover the many competing interests in Intensive Care and how your critically ill loved one’s treatment may depend on those competing interests
- How to eliminate fear, frustration, stress, struggle and vulnerability even if your loved one is dying
- 5 “killer” tips& strategies helping you to get on the right path to PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence in your situation
- You’ll get real world examples that you can easily adapt to your and your critically ill loved one’s situation
- How to stop being intimidated by the Intensive Care team and how you will be seen as equals
- You’ll get crucial ‘behind the scenes’ insight so that you know and understand what is really happening in Intensive Care
- How you need to manage doctors and nurses in Intensive Care(it’s not what you think)
Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWRED” and I’ll see you again in another update next week! Make sure you also check out our “blog” section for more tips and strategies or send me an email to [email protected] with your questions!
Also check out our Products section where you get more Ebooks, Videos and Audio recordings and where you can also get 1:1 consulting!
This is Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM and I’ll see you again next week with another update!
Sincerely, your Friend
Patrik Hutzel