MedWorm Tags: coma

Priority 1 Trauma Activation

Inside Surgery — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:50:22 +0100

Although trauma protocols differ slightly from center to center, most major trauma centers use criteria similar to the following to activate a level 1 (i.e., highest) response: 1. Blood pressure < 90 mmHg in adults and age specific hypotension in children 2. Intubated patients or presence of respiratory compromise 3. Ongoing blood transfusion or intravenous fluid administration to maintain vital signs 4. Penetrating trauma to the neck, chest, abdomen, flanks, proximal leg above the knee, proximal arm above the elbow 5. Glasgow coma scale 8 or less 6. Trauma or emergency room physician discretion (Source: Inside Surgery)

Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) Predictive Ability

Inside Surgery — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:00:55 +0100

The most important and most predictive scale (motor, verbal, eye opening) in the Glasgow Coma Score is the motor scale or response. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Typhoid Fever

Inside Surgery — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:41:10 +0100

Pathophysiology 1) cause is infection with Salmonella typhi (and occasionally S. paratyphi) 2) disease progresses through two distinct phases 3) first phase – organism migrates from mouth after ingestion to small intestine to lymph system and bloodstream to organ infestation where microbe multiplies 4) second phase – release of the organism from viscera with heavier infestation and the onset of clinical illness; reinvasion of the intestine also occurs Signs and Symptoms 1) gradual onset 2) characteristic “rose spot” rash on trunk (10%) 3) fever 4) malaise 5) headache 6) constipation/abdominal pain 7) bradycardia myalgias/arthralgias 9) hepatosplenomegaly 10) pharyngitis 11) epistaxis 12) neuropsychiatric conditions (muttering delirium” and “coma vigil&#...

Test For Unconsciousness: The Sternal Rub

The EMT Spot — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:53 +0100

Ahhh the embattled sternal rub. Revered, reviled … the sternal rub is the Ann Coulter of medical interventions. Abrasive, annoying, loved by many, hated by many more. The subject of the usefulness of the sternal rub is bound to cause controversy in any EMS forum. In other words … it’s a great subject for The Spot. Like many controversial assessments and treatments, the sternal rub (sometimes referred to as the sternum rub) got its bad-boy reputation more from its misuse than from its own shortcomings. Never-the-less, the technique does have its shortcomings. Like so many other tools, it has its place when used appropriately and it has its potential for misuse. So let’s make sure you understand its uses and limitations. If you’ve never encountered this techni...

Husband’s kiss wakes ’sleeping beauty wife’ in coma

Malaysian Medical Resources — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

After two weeks sitting by his wife’s bedside hoping she would wake from a coma, Andrew Ray was at his wits’ end.read more | digg story A fairy tale come true! From the sound of it, it wasn’t a “heart attack” but in fact pulmonary embolism and that lady is sure lucky to be alive. from the Malaysian Medical Resources Husband’s kiss wakes ’sleeping beauty wife’ in coma (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources)

Neuroimaging and Vegetative States in The New Yorker

BrainBlog — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:28:00 +0100

Silent MindsWhat scanning techniques are revealing about vegetative patients.by Jerome Groopman15 October 2007The New Yorker[ ... Read the piece ... ] (Source: BrainBlog)