You are caring for a patient who has no cognitive functioning but only basic human functions such opening the eyes and the sleep - wake cycle. What level of consciousness does this patient have?
A- Obtunded
B- A persistent vegetative state
C- Locked in syndrome
D- Brain death
Correct Response: B
A persistent vegetative state leaves the client with no cognitive functioning but only basic functions such as a sleep – wake cycle and eye opening. Locked in syndrome is characterized with retained cognitive functioning but absent motor functioning. This patient is able to communicate with eye movements and they are typically aware of their surroundings. Brain death is defined as the state where there is a known irreversible cause of the coma, a complete loss of all brainstem reflexes, complete unresponsiveness to eternal stimuli and the absence of respiratory function with the presence of hypercapnea. Obtunded patients respond slowly to stimulation.
A- Obtunded
B- A persistent vegetative state
C- Locked in syndrome
D- Brain death
Correct Response: B
A persistent vegetative state leaves the client with no cognitive functioning but only basic functions such as a sleep – wake cycle and eye opening. Locked in syndrome is characterized with retained cognitive functioning but absent motor functioning. This patient is able to communicate with eye movements and they are typically aware of their surroundings. Brain death is defined as the state where there is a known irreversible cause of the coma, a complete loss of all brainstem reflexes, complete unresponsiveness to eternal stimuli and the absence of respiratory function with the presence of hypercapnea. Obtunded patients respond slowly to stimulation.
