How was food and water given to comatose patients in the old days before IVs?

P

Philmore

New member
I've always been curious about this. Was it even possible or was a prolonged coma simply fatal due to starvation?
Very good info so far (I never clicked "thumbs down" on anyone). I had not thought of the tube into the GI tract or through the nose.
This was inspired by an close friend who is an author. She is writing a military-themed story where a group of soldiers are in the field with very limited supplies. One character is sick and unconscious, and the field medic (who has lost his kit) needed a way to sustain him long enough for others in the unit to return with proper supplies and medication.
 
A rubber hose was inserted into the nose and down the throat into the stomach. Using this, liquids could be administered.
 
Don't know who gave Mark a thumbs down. That's how we did it in the old days. Aspiration and constipation were continual problems. It's still used. Aspiration can be reduced by having the tip of the feeding tube in the jejunum rather than in the stomach. Also, you can put a tube thru the abdominal wall into the stomach or into the jejunum. But those are relatively recent innovations, past 3 decades or thereabouts.

Remember, a standard IV won't sustain life much longer than half a month. You can't get enough calories in. So you go the TPN (total parenteral nutrition) route.
 
1] water was 'dribbled' in patient's mouth, a little at a time [ so patient would not choke, at least in theory ]
2] honey or other sweeteners added to water would provide a few calories
3] any coma longer than a few days would either cause
a] kidney failure [ from lack of fluids ] or
b] starvation
 
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