Treatment depends on the cause of the coma. Providers might give breathing assistance, medicines through a vein and other supportive care. Health care providers typically first check the affected person's airway and help maintain breathing and circulation. This test can determine if seizures might be the cause of a coma.Ī coma is a medical emergency. A low electrical current travels through the electrodes, which record the brain's electrical impulses. This measures the electrical activity inside the brain through small metal discs called electrodes attached to the scalp. MRI scans are particularly useful for examining the brainstem and deep brain structures. An MRI scan can detect bleeding in the brain, brain tissue damaged by an ischemic stroke and other conditions. This uses powerful radio waves and a magnetic field to create a detailed view of the brain. This test is often used to diagnose and determine the cause of a coma. A CT scan can show bleeding in the brain, tumors, strokes and other conditions. This uses a series of X-rays to create a detailed image of the brain. Imaging tests help pinpoint areas of brain injury. During a spinal tap, a health care provider inserts a needle into the spinal canal and collects a small amount of fluid for analysis. Sugar is also called glucose.Ī spinal tap, also known as a lumbar puncture, can check for signs of infections in the nervous system. Squirting cold or warm water into the affected person's ear canals and watching eye reactions.īlood samples typically are taken to check for:.Testing reflexive eye movements to help determine the cause of the coma and the location of brain damage.Speaking loudly or pressing on the angle of the jaw or nail bed while watching for signs of arousal, such as vocal noises, eyes opening or movement.Checking the skin for signs of bruises due to trauma.Observing breathing patterns to help diagnose the cause of the coma.Checking the affected person's movements and reflexes, response to painful stimuli, and pupil size.Management is with thyroid hormone replacement, typically with levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroxine, a.k.a. 'T4'. Sonographic appearance depends on underlying etiology, and may include: Common etiological associations are as follows 1: Pathology of the thyroid gland itself may result in primary hypothyroidism, whereas pathology which affects the pituitary and hypothalamic production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and/or thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) (respectively) is referred to as secondary hypothyroidism. In cases of severe hypothyroidism, patients may present with a myxedema coma, which presents with reduced/altered mental state, hypothermia, severe constipation (including myxedematous megacolon), bradycardia, hypotension, hypoventilation, hypoglycemia, and gross myxedema 5. periorbital/peripheral (non-pitting) edema.Hypothyroidism affects almost every organ system, with common presenting complaints including: The most common cause depends on the patient population in the United States autoimmune diseases, especially Hashimoto thyroiditis, causes the majority of cases, whereas in highly iodine-deficient populations (such as those who reside in Southeast Asia, especially populations further inland) iodine deficiency is the most common cause 3. Disproportionately affects females in a 10:1 ratio compared to males. Clinically symptomatic hypothyroidism is less common than subclinical hypothyroidism and becomes more common with increasing age.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |