Investigations of an Unconscious Patient - Flowchart
Investigations of an Unconscious Patient - Flowchart Investigations of an Unconscious Patient Investigations of an Unconscious Patient
«Flowchart»

Unconscious patient

Unconscious patient

Unconscious patient

History known


Trauma
Epilepsy
Diabetes
Intoxication

History known


Trauma
Epilepsy
Diabetes
Intoxication


Trauma
Epilepsy
Diabetes
Intoxication History known

No history

No history

No history


Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Meningitis


Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Meningitis


Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Meningitis


Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Meningitis

Primarily intracranial cause


Neuroradiology (CT scan or MRI)

Primarily intracranial cause


Neuroradiology (CT scan or MRI)

Primarily intracranial cause


Neuroradiology (CT scan or MRI)


Neuroradiology (CT scan or MRI)

Thorough examination (see text)

Thorough examination (see text)

Thorough examination (see text)

Clinical examination

Clinical examination

Clinical examination

No neurological findings

No neurological findings

No neurological findings

Neurological signs

Neurological signs

Neurological signs

Meningismus


Lumbar puncture

Meningismus


Lumbar puncture


Lumbar puncture Meningismus

End

End

End

Useful laboratory tests


red and white cell count: anaemia, infections
blood glucose: hypoglycaemia, diabetic coma
sodium, potassium
CRP: infections
Ethanol: alcohol intoxication
Ammonium: hepatic coma
Creatinine, urea: uraemia
Astrup (pulse oximetry): hypoxia, metabolic acidosis in methanol intoxication
ECG: arrhythmias

Useful laboratory tests


red and white cell count: anaemia, infections
blood glucose: hypoglycaemia, diabetic coma
sodium, potassium
CRP: infections
Ethanol: alcohol intoxication
Ammonium: hepatic coma
Creatinine, urea: uraemia
Astrup (pulse oximetry): hypoxia, metabolic acidosis in methanol intoxication
ECG: arrhythmias

Useful laboratory tests


red and white cell count: anaemia, infections
blood glucose: hypoglycaemia, diabetic coma
sodium, potassium
CRP: infections
Ethanol: alcohol intoxication
Ammonium: hepatic coma
Creatinine, urea: uraemia
Astrup (pulse oximetry): hypoxia, metabolic acidosis in methanol intoxication
ECG: arrhythmias


red and white cell count: anaemia, infections
blood glucose: hypoglycaemia, diabetic coma
sodium, potassium
CRP: infections
Ethanol: alcohol intoxication
Ammonium: hepatic coma
Creatinine, urea: uraemia
Astrup (pulse oximetry): hypoxia, metabolic acidosis in methanol intoxication
ECG: arrhythmias


Stroke
Intracranial haemorrhage
Brain tumour


Stroke
Intracranial haemorrhage
Brain tumour


Stroke
Intracranial haemorrhage
Brain tumour


Stroke
Intracranial haemorrhage
Brain tumour