Serious complications of insulin shock therapy

Summary and Conclusions

• 1. Three cases of protracted coma are reported, one of which showed a very severe reaction of an organic nature and ended with recovery although no further insulin treatment was given.

• 2. In three instances where adrenalin was given as a therapeutic measure after failure to respond to glucose, there followed repeated generalized convulsions of an extrapyramidal nature that seemed to result in deeper comatose states and added to the critical state of the patients.

• 3. We would like to bring up for consideration the suggestion Kraulis of utilizing artificial prolonged comatose states as a therapeutic endeavor in cases where the usual insulin or metrazol treatment fails.