Abstract
The unconscious patient presents a challenging emergency in the intensive care unit. This is a dangerous time for the patient; patient evaluation and treatment must occur simultaneously. Clinical circumstances with immediate therapeutic consequences, such as hypoxia or hypoglycemia, must be identified and treated quickly. Then, as the patient’s condition is being stabilized, a working diagnosis must be made and a treatment plan formulated. Lengthy diagnostic procedures, such as angiography and magnetic resonance imaging, should be considered only after these initial steps are taken.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Suggested Reading
Plum F, Posner JB (1984) The diagnosis of stupor and coma. Davis, Philadelphia
Stohr M, Brandt T, Einhäupl KM (1990) Neurologische Syndrom in der Intensivmedizin Kohlhammer, Stuttgart
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Aldrich, E., Biniek, R., Hacke, W. (1994). How to Approach an Unconscious Patient. In: Hacke, W., Hanley, D.F., Einhäupl, K.M., Bleck, T.P., Diringer, M.N., Ropper, A.H. (eds) Neurocritical Care. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87602-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87602-8_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-87604-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-87602-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive