As an ICU nurse myself if that was my patient I would chart him as being semicomatose. An obtunded patient might be suffering from toxins or a drug overdose, severe diseases such as renal or liver failure, stroke, infection, or swelling of the brain. Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; (medicine) Describing someone who is far from alert or oriented to time and space, and exhibits other signs being confused, a state just short of frank delirium. i have only ever seen the descriptors used in a handful of books - they have long been replaced with the glascow coma scale simply because they were too confusing. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Stupor can occur with brain damage caused by infection, stroke, organ failure, or toxic overdose. Somnolent adjective. Differential effects of the Glasgow Coma Scale Score and its components: An analysis of 54,069 patients with traumatic brain injury. Alzheimer disease and other kinds of dementia. Altered mental status (AMS) is a general term used to describe various disorders of mental functioning ranging from slight confusion to coma. When the stimulation stops she immediately lapses back into her unresponsive state. Abnormal breathing patterns or reactions to reflex stimulation can also help determine levels of alertness. Obtunded vs Lethargic Lethargy is a level of consciousness less severe than obtunded. A serum TSH is an important test to order. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17446616?tool=bestpractice.com [9], Normally, stupor and coma are produced by interference with the brain stem, such as can be caused by a lesion or indirect effects, such as brain herniation. [13] A pH outside of the range the brain can tolerate will also alter LOC. (Eds), Handbook of Metamemory and Memory. It was last seen in British quick crossword. Somnolent: sleepy, responding to stimuli only with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Coma scales can help describe the exact level of consciousness. An altered level of consciousness is any measure of arousal other than normal. Ready? 2014;7(2):124-127. Delirium in older people. BMJ. Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer. Sponsored Links Possible answer: D R She follows some basic commands, and is slow to respond. (dated) Causing literal or figurative sleepiness; soporific. With over 2,000+ clear, concise, and visual lessons, there is something for you! When in a stupor, an unresponsive patient will only awaken to deep physical stimuli before falling back asleep. [9] A decreased LOC can also result from a combination of factors. [1]Han JH, Wilber ST. Altered mental status in older patients in the emergency department. The human brain can adjust its level of alertness as needed through information gained from sensory organs. *Patients who are confused as well as agitated, restless, or hallucinating are considered delirious. The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. About 40% of patients were ages over 60 years. Thanks for the replies and advice. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25215076?tool=bestpractice.com 2016 Aug;34(3):649-65. Altered level of consciousness. simple past tense and past participle of obtund. If youre interested in getting your CRNA someday, you might find this article fascinatingI know I certainly did! Lethargy is a level of consciousness less severe than obtunded. The most common classification systems are: Levels of consciousness range from normal alertness and attention through many altered states. When a patient is obtunded, it indicates brain damage possibly caused by toxins, infection, or organ failure.
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