TBI RMS

Question 1

What is the A-WPTAS

Answer 1

Abbreviated Westmead Post Traumatic Amnesia Scale
1. Provides a consistent framework and format
2. For assessing and monitoring patients with post traumatic amnesia
3. In an acute care setting
4. Objective is to identify patients with prolonged PTA

Question 2

Which patients can I perform the A-WPTAS assessment on?

Answer 2

Criteria for use
1. Within 24 hrs of injury with suspected closed head injury
2. GCS 13-15
3. Eyes open spontaneously GCS - E4
4. Obeys commands GCS - M6

If a patient fails AWPTAS after 4 hours of testing they move on to starting WPTAS

Question 3

What are the components of the A-WPTAS

Answer 3

1. GCS
2. Picture recognition

Question 4

How to score A-WPTAS

Answer 4

** Score GCS normally and add to each assessment**
1. 1st Ax show 3 pictures for 10s and ensure they can repeat the names of each picture(cup, bird, key), tell patient to remember pictures for retsting in 1 hour
2. 2nd/subsequent Ax ask what are the 3 pictures I showed you earlier, 1 point for each correctly remembered picture
3. If unable to remember all 3 pictures correctly, show the set of 9 pictures and ask them to identify the 3 target pictures. 1 point for each correctly recognised picture
4. If pt is unable to correctly recognise all 3 target pictures, again show them the target pictures and ensure they can repeat the name of each picture
5. Retest in 1 hour
If total is 18/18 at any assessment to cease testing
Max duration is 4 hours

https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/274067/awptas-form.pdf