The Comatose Patient

The Comatose Patient is a single authored entirely new work written by apracticing critical care neurologist. It includes a critical historicaloverview of the concepts of consciousness and unconsciousness, principles ofneurologic examination of the comatose patients including instruction of a newcoma scale, the 'FOUR Score', a new practical multistep approach to thediagnosis of the comatose patient, extensive coverage of interpretation ofneuroimaging and its role in daily practice and decision making, management inthe emergency room and ICU and long-term supportive care and approach tocommunication with family members and end-of-life decision. It also discusseslandmark legal cases and ethical problems and a chapter on the public perceptionof coma. The book is lavishly illustrated with over 300 illustrations throughoutthe book. Unprecedented, this book includes 75 comprehensive case vignettes covering theentire spectrum of causes leading to coma. In each case a specific cause ispresented. Every example is fully discussed and explained with an emphasis onthe mechanism of coma in that particular case and followed by a section onmanagement and expected outcome. This monograph additionally includes a 45-minute DVD with 5 narrated chaptersand an easy to use navigation menu. Included are 40 patient examples showing theinstructions of the FOUR score Coma Scale, common neurological findings in coma,breathing patterns in coma, different types of prolonged comatose statesincluding a persistent vegetative state and a minimally conscious state. Using3D animation, the DVD includes a comprehensive description of the determinationof Brain Death and how to safely do the apnea test. There is an emphasis onpitfalls and common concerns. The DVD can also be used for neurology andneurosurgery residency programs, medical and nursing school curricula andphysical therapy programs.