What happens if shot in the head

The decision to proceed with surgical treatment of the gunshot wound is based on the following factors:. If patients are deeply comatose with minimal evidence of brainstem function and without evidence of an intracranial hematoma that might be causing coma, a fatal outcome is nearly certain.

If a hematoma is confirmed by CT scan, an emergency craniotomy for clot evacuation, removal of debris and devitalized tissue may be performed. It is common for pressure to build up within the skull, so a craniectomy a procedure in which a large portion of the skull is temporarily removed to decrease pressure inside the skull is also often performed.

Understanding the trajectory of the bullet path is important in determining prognosis and management. The brain is divided into two hemispheres made up of four lobes each, with each lobe providing different functions. Additionally, there are deeper parts of the brain that house many connections, controlling basic body and brain functions.

The brainstem contains nuclei for cranial nerves needed for basic functions, such as breathing and swallowing.

It connects the upper portion, or "thinking" portions of the brain, to the spinal cord. The cerebellum, in the back lower part of the brain, is related to motor coordination. Outcome is poorer for those with extensive bullet tracts, those that cross the deep midline structures of the brain or those that involve the brainstem. Well that's what your tissues do when the shock waves kick them. Now that said, it's well documented that some people can survive being shot in the head.

And those that do survive tend to have to deal with severe cognitive impairments. In most of these cases, the bullet did not cross through the midline, which is almost always fatal. Eagleman says that many people survive shots to the head because bullets are relatively small and travel at high velocity. When shot just right, a bullet can quickly enter and exit the skull without inflicting too much damage.

Perhaps the best example of someone surviving a gunshot wound is the remarkable story of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In her case, the bullet entered at the back of her skull and exited through the front, travelling through the left side of her brain. For Giffords, the areas affected included her speech centers and other non-life threatening functions. Moreover, surgeons did not have to remove much dead brain tissue and they were able to subdue swelling.

They also didn't have to deal with any dangerous infections. But as for those brain injuries that can quickly turn the insides of your skull into mush, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You'll be going from zero to oblivion faster than you can finish reading this sentence. Image via Shutterstock. But these examples are outliers. Depictions of gun violence in fictional shows and movies are routine, and often wildly imaginative.

As a combat medic in Afghanistan, I treated a variety of gunshot wounds. And as the husband of an emergency room provider at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, gun violence has remained—at least peripherally—a significant part of my life. This year, murder rates in Baltimore are on track to surpass death tolls generated by the crack epidemic. Lavery sustained his wounds at close range, the fateful round fired from a Soviet-designed PKM 7. Lavery had quickly positioned himself between the shooter and a younger American infantryman, an instinctive decision for which he would receive the Silver Star.

Nick seemed indestructible. Earlier, during the same deployment, a grazing round scarred his face, and shrapnel from an exploding RPG injured his shoulder. On this day, his "good luck" ran out. The femoral artery runs down the thigh, using the femur as a backstop. The Chest Kill Zone Side view: When you are positioned to take a shot from side-on, the key aiming point for the chest kill zone area is located in the middle of the chest just behind the shoulder joint of the animal.

This area is large and contains vital organs such as the lungs and heart. Front view: When you are positioned to take a shot from front-on, the key aiming point is found in the area at the base of the neck central to the legs. The Head Kill Zone Side view: When you are positioned to take a shot from side-on, the key aiming point for shot placement into the head kill zone is the base of the ear. Where the animals head is angled down towards the ground, the key point of aim is located at the intersection point of two imaginary lines drawn from each eye to the opposite ear.

When you are positioned to take a shot at an animal looking directly in your direction, the point of aim should be just above the centre of the nostrils. Illustrations displaying the kill zone areas on these pest species Wounded animals Ethical hunters must ensure that any unintentionally wounded animal is quickly located and all efforts are made to follow up the initial shot with a quick kill shot to minimise any pain and suffering.