Coma
Introduction
Coma is a state of reduced alertness and responsiveness from which the patient cannot be aroused. The Glasgow Coma Scale is a widely used clinical scoring system for alterations in consciousness. Advantages are a simple scoring system and assessment of separate verbal, motor, and eye-opening functions. Disadvantages include lack of acknowledgement of hemiparesis or other focal motor sing and lack of testing of higher cognitive functions. Causes of coma likely to be encountered in the ED are noted in Table 229-7.