Urgent considerations for assessment of coma in the emergency department

Authors

  • Tammam Mozher Aldarwish Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Talal Hussain Alolowi Department of Emergency Medicine, Al Madinah General Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia
  • Rayan Othman Alsadiqi Department of Emergency Medicine, Al Iman General Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Hussain Ali Al Hassan College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Alahsaa, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdullah Saeed Alqahtani Department of Emergency Medicine, Ahad Rufaidah General Hospital, Ahad Rufaidah, Saudi Arabia
  • Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammad Department of Emergency Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia
  • Wafa Mohammad Almalki College of Medicine, Arab Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
  • Jawad Mubarak Al Zara College of Medicine, Gdansk Medical University, Gdansk, Poland
  • Saud Dhafer Alshahrani College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
  • Bashayer Ali Alyami College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
  • Ahmed Hamoud Alotaibi College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214043

Keywords:

Coma, Emergency, Management, Evaluation

Abstract

Not speaking, closed eyes, absent response to tactile, verbal or noxious stimuli are characteristic of comatose patients. Many causes of coma have been identified and reported in the literature. However, other causes might require extensive assessment and evaluation approaches. The attending physicians start with the baseline support of life for the affected patients, followed by rapid assessment and evaluation of the etiology and pathophysiology and adequate physical examination. In addition, it requires imaging and laboratory investigations whenever needed to determine the most appropriate management plan. In this literature review, we have conducted a brief discussion about the urgent considerations for the assessment of coma in the emergency department. Many causes can attribute to the development of coma. Therefore, adequate assessment and evaluation is a key component in the management of the affected patients in the emergency department. Moreover, the management approach might differ based on the underlying etiology. Nevertheless, caring for breathing, circulation, management of the airways, and stabilization are the main steps that should be done for each comatose patient. Physical examination is also critical in such situations, where imaging or conducting laboratory tests might not be suitable for some patients. Finally, the treatment plan should be directed based on the underlying etiology of coma.

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Published

2021-10-27

How to Cite

Aldarwish, T. M., Alolowi, T. H., Alsadiqi, R. O., Al Hassan, H. A., Alqahtani, A. S., Hammad, A. M. A., Almalki, W. M., Zara, J. M. A., Alshahrani, S. D., Alyami, B. A., & Alotaibi, A. H. (2021). Urgent considerations for assessment of coma in the emergency department. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(11), 5489–5493. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214043

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Section

Review Articles