| Obtundation | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Obtundation is mild to moderate alertness reduction ( altered level of consciousness) with decreased interest in the environment and slower than normal reactivity to stimulation. [1] It is distinguished from the much stronger states of unresponsiveness of stupor and coma. Obtundation typically occurs as a result of a medical condition or trauma. [2]
There is a huge range of potential causes including head injury, interruption of blood circulation, impaired oxygenation or carbon dioxide toxicity ( hypercapnia), central nervous system (CNS) infections, drug intoxication or withdrawal, post-seizure state, hypothermia, and metabolic derangements such as hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and hypercalcaemic crisis. [3]
Symptoms include delayed reaction time, lessened interest in the environment, very short attention span, and excessive sleeping. [4] [5]
The root word, obtund, means "dulled or less sharp" (cf. obtuse angle).
See also
References
- ^ "Obtundation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics".
- ^ Panayiotopoulos, C. P. (2010). A Clinical Guide to Epileptic Syndromes and their Treatment. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 76–77. ISBN 9781846286445. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ In Wells, B. G.; in DiPiro, J. T.; in Schwinghammer, T. L.; in DiPiro, C. V. (2017). Pharmacotherapy handbook.
- ^ "Obtundation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ^ "The Difference Between Lethargy, Obtundation, Stupor, and Coma | Time of Care". 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
External links
-
The dictionary definition of
obtundation at Wiktionary
