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How long can a person survive wihout food or water in a coma?

Self explanatory question. I would expect longer than when plainly asleep or awake since your body is basically in shutdown.

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    I have seen this happen before at a facility I was working at. This was a geriatric who stroked after having a total hip done (an embolism related to the surgery, I'm sure) & never regained consciousness. She was a DNR (do not resuscitate), & therefore, no IV fluids were administered, no feeding tube was inserted; however she did have an order for O2 to be titrated as needed. If my memory serves me correctly, she did not quite last a week.

    With that much typed, it should be noted that all cases are different & the answer would vary related to what their physical condition was like prior to the coma & cessation of nutrition & hydration.

    Source(s): RN
  • ?
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    aren't people in comas usually hooked up to an IV though?

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