eli5 why can you not just go into a medically-induced coma to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal?
In: 1430
ICU doctor here. The drugs we use to put people in ‘medically included comas’ also have potential for withdrawal once they’re stopped to wake the patient back up. It also becomes difficult to differentiate between withdrawal symptoms and medication induced delirium.
Additionally, the procedure would also require having a breathing tube placed into the airway, a method of feeding/hydrating, risk of skin breakdown from pressure ulcers, and 24/7 monitoring, among many other potential problems.
Not only would all this put the patient at more risk than benefit, it’s hugely inefficient and not at all cost effective.
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