Week 10 SDL Head injuries

Question 1

How is consciousness defined?

Answer 1

consciousness refers to your individual awareness of your unique thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations and environments
Essentially, it is your awareness of yourself and the world around you

Question 2

When should the C-spine always be immobilised?

Answer 2

when there is a history of trauma and possible C-spine injury

Question 3

When should oxygen always be given?

Answer 3

when patients are unconcious, even if they are breathing and their saturations are satisfactory

Question 4

What are the 3 categories in the GCS and what is the score range in GCS?

Answer 4

1. Eye opening response
2. Verbal response
3. Motor response
   Lowest score = 3
   Highest score = 15

Question 5

What is the pupillary light reflex?

Answer 5

• the pathway that mediates changes in pupil size depending on light levels
• normally, light that is directed in one eye produces pupil constriction in both eyes

Question 6

What is a diffuse head injury?

Answer 6

a form of traumatic brain injury when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull as the injury is occuring

Question 7

What is an extradural haemorrhage?

Answer 7

collection of blood in the ‘potential space’ betweeN the skull and the dura matter

Question 8

What is the textbook presentation of an EDH?

Answer 8

Lucid interval between the initial loss of consciousness at the time of impact and a delayed decline in mental statis, alterations in level of consciousness