Necessity and duration of an artificial coma | How long does pneumonia last?

Necessity and duration of an artificial coma

In some cases, the patient may have to be put into an artificial coma, as mechanical ventilation becomes necessary. This is ordered by the physicians if the patient himself is no longer able to take in sufficient oxygen due to the pneumonia. Ventilation is performed with a so-called tube, which is a pipe connected to the breathing gas machine.

This tube is inserted into the patient’s windpipe. Since an awake person would not tolerate this because of the gagging stimulus, the patient is put into an artificial coma. No general statement can be made at this point about the duration of an artificial coma.

In principle, however, in this context “as short as possible, as long as necessary” applies. Placing the patient in an artificial coma is an escalation stage in the treatment of pneumonia and it is very difficult to predict how long this condition will last. Every patient reacts differently to this condition, the underlying disease and further therapies. Furthermore, the duration depends on possible additional diseases or possible organ failure.

If and how long do I have a fever with pneumonia?

Fever can occur in the case of pneumonia, but does not have to. Especially in viral, atypical pneumonia, fever is hardly measurable in the early stages. However, this then rises to a maximum of 38.5 degrees within the first 7 days.

An atypical pneumonia is characterized by a creeping worsening of an already existing cold. Fever is always an indicator of a worsening of the condition. The situation is different in a typical bacterial pneumonia.

An acute onset with an immediate, high fever of over 38.5 degrees is typical. Fever is not a “bad” thing in itself, but a reaction of the body to the colonization with pathogens. Due to the increased temperature, the body kills the bacteria or viruses, which are less heat-resistant than the body’s own cells.

Fever is in itself a very useful way for the body to get rid of the pathogens. The temperature often rises quite quickly to 41 degrees, but rarely above that, because between 40 and 41 degrees the body’s own proteins denature, i.e. dissolve their structure. For this reason, fever at 40-41 degrees or above is life-threatening and represents a medical emergency that should definitely be treated immediately.