When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, such as in a motor vehicle accident, it is imperative that he or she receives immediate medical attention. The sooner the injury is addressed the better outlook the person has for a full recovery.
Once emergency medical treatment is provided, anybody with traumatic brain injury is likely to be moved to the hospital’s inpatient intensive care unit. There are many reasons for this, including to achieve stability, to prevent additional trouble, and to manage the injuries.
Depending on the overall health of the person, treatment in this unit is often accompanied by a variety of equipment, including but not limited to a ventilator, Foley catheter, nasogastric tube, an EKG machine.
No two traumatic brain injuries are the same. For example, one person may be in a coma while another is unstable but responsive. This all depends on the type of accident, the seriousness of the injury, and the manner in which the person responds.
Even though intensive care treatment is never a good thing, the positive takeaway from this is that help is available. Medical professionals who work in this capacity are well aware of what patients are facing, and are trained to deal with their specific needs.
When individuals suffer traumatic brain injuries, it is likely they will face an uphill battle in terms of making a recovery. This can take many months. Furthermore, it can cost a lot of money.
Intensive care treatment for a traumatic brain injury is common. While complicated in many ways, it is the best way for a person to start his or her recovery.
Source: Brain Injury Association of America, “Treatment,” accessed Sep. 01, 2015