RT Book, Section
A1 Dunford, John
A2 Freeman, Brian S.
A2 Berger, Jeffrey S.
SR Print(0)
ID 1135739124
T1 Coma
T2 Anesthesiology Core Review: Part Two Advanced Exam
YR 2016
FD 2016
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259641770
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1135739124
RD 2024/04/19
AB Coma  is  the  severest  form  of  impaired  consciousness.  Coma  is  a  state  of  apparent  sleep  that  does  not  respond  to  a  stimulus  of  any  type.  Less  severe  disturbances  of  consciousness  include  stupor,  which  is  a  state  of  apparent  sleep  that  will  respond  to  vigorous  physical  stimulation,  and  somnolence,  which  is  a  state  of  apparent  sleep  that  will  respond  to  a  verbal  command.  Confusion  is  often  associated  with  impaired  consciousness.  An  acute  confessional  state  is  known  as  a  delirium.  If  a  delirium  manifests  with  thoughts  that  contain  fixed  false  beliefs,  then  these  are  described  as  delusions.  Delirium  is  usually  reversible  and  can  be  either  hyperactive  or  hypoactive.  This  distinction  is  important  to  the  anesthesiologist  as  hyperactive  delirium  with  delusions  and  hallucinations  are  more  often  secondary  to  medications,  while  hypoactive  delirium  is  often  secondary  to  an  organic  cause  such  as  hypoglycemia,  increased  intracranial  pressure,  or  infection.  If  a  confusional  state  is  of  a  chronic  nature,  it  is  considered  dementia.