Mod D Tech 21 Unconsciousness Flashcards
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness as a condition is easy to recognise, the causes may be simple or complex and you may not always be able to recognise or treat them
You can, however ensure survival of the patient or prevent complications by prompt continued care of the airway and correct positioning
Causes of Unconsciousness
- Fainting
- Infantile convulsions
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Shock
- Head injury
- Anaphylaxis
- Poisons
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Blood loss
- Extremes of body temp
- Asphyxia
- Cardiac arrest
- Hysteria
- Drug overdose
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- Fainting
- Infantile convulsions
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Shock
- Head injury
- Anaphylaxis
- Poisons
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
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- Blood loss
- Extremes of body temp
- Asphyxia
- Cardiac arrest
- Hysteria
- Drug overdose
Management of the unconscious patient
- DCRABCDE
- Treat life threatening conditions
- Secondary survey – Head to toe
- Gain history from bystanders/family
- Patient positioning
–following treatment of illness or injury
- Maintain continuous observation of the airway
- Assess GCS
- Assess blood sugar levels
- Full set of obs and repeat
Full head-to-toe examination
- Deformities
- Contusions
- Abrasions
- Penetrations/punctures
- Burns
- Tenderness
- Lacerations
Swellings
Checking bony areas for…
- Tenderness
- Instability
- Crepitus
•
- Movement
- Sensation
- Circulation
Ongoing assessment
Record full set of obs:
- Pulse
- Resps
- Temp
- SA02
- BP
- BM
- GCS
- ECG
•
Repeat every 10 mins.
Use ATMIST to pre-alert
(if required)
- Age and sex of patient
- Time of incident
- Mechanism of injury
- Injury or illness suspected
- Signs
–(vital signs) indicate whether physiological state of patient has improved or deteriorated
Treatment given
Summary
•Never leave an unconscious patient unattended
•
•Maintenance of the airway is vital
•
•Information on the history of the event and any changes in patients condition are important to the hospital
•
•Take into account Mechanism of injury when assessing your patient
