TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the comatose patient in the intensive care unit.
AU - Stewart-Amidei, C.
PY - 1991/11
Y1 - 1991/11
N2 - Consciousness is a complex phenomenon comprising arousal and awareness. These functions are mediated by the reticular activating system that begins in the brainstem and projects to higher cortical structures. Abnormalities directly or indirectly affecting this system may produce coma. Detailed neurologic assessment consists of evaluation of history, skeletal motor response, pupillary size and reactivity, eye movement, and respiratory patterns. Information obtained may be useful in localizing the contributory lesion, predicting outcome, and determining brain death. Several scales have been used to quantify coma, each with limitations. In the United States, the most widely used scale is the Glasgow Coma Scale.
AB - Consciousness is a complex phenomenon comprising arousal and awareness. These functions are mediated by the reticular activating system that begins in the brainstem and projects to higher cortical structures. Abnormalities directly or indirectly affecting this system may produce coma. Detailed neurologic assessment consists of evaluation of history, skeletal motor response, pupillary size and reactivity, eye movement, and respiratory patterns. Information obtained may be useful in localizing the contributory lesion, predicting outcome, and determining brain death. Several scales have been used to quantify coma, each with limitations. In the United States, the most widely used scale is the Glasgow Coma Scale.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026248164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0026248164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4037/15597768-1991-4002
DO - 10.4037/15597768-1991-4002
M3 - Article
C2 - 1954051
AN - SCOPUS:0026248164
SN - 1046-7467
VL - 2
SP - 613
EP - 622
JO - AACN clinical issues in critical care nursing
JF - AACN clinical issues in critical care nursing
IS - 4
ER -