UPDATE: Ex-F1-dokter Gary Hartstein geeft uitleg over situatie Michael Schumacher

De gezondheidssituatie van Michael Schumacher is nog altijd zorgwekkend. Na zijn ski-ongeval ging de situatie hard achteruit. In de avond was een noodoperatie noodzakelijk. Inmiddels ligt de illustere Duitser in een coma. Voormalig Formule 1-dokter Gary Hartstein nam via Twitter uitgebreid de gelegenheid om uit te leggen wat er aan de hand is en welke behandelingen Schumacher krijgt.

Een vrij technisch verhaal maar het biedt wat opheldering.

It's quite well known that extradural hematomas, a kind of cerebral hemorrhage, can leave a lucid interval after injury

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

Then as the hematoma forms, the sudden increase in pressure causes sudden and dramatic symptoms. Pressure must be relieved rapidly.

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

This is done with a neurosurgical intervention. Then the victim is observed in an ICU environment

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

Quality of recovery depends on: 1) severity of initial injury 2) acuteness and amplitude of pressure rise when hematoma forms...

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

3) rapidity with which it is drained 4) quality of neuro intensive care and rehab

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

About the "induced coma". Lets demystify it just a bit. Any severe head injury leads to a loss of coordination of tongue and throat muscles

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

Happens to some when they sleep - called SNORING. But this is reapiratory obstruction and causes CO2 to rise and oxygen to fall.

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

But the brain wants oxygen and hates CO2. So we put tubes in these patient's tracheas and use reapirators. This protects the airway

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

And gives excellent control of ventilation and oxygenation. But to intubate someone, he or she needs to be pretty deeply anesthetised

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013

So this is the usual "artificial coma". It IS a induced coma, but in fact it's like a prolonged, protective, anesthetic.

— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) 29 december 2013