Which cranial nerves can be tested in an unconscious patient?

Examination of eye movement with oculocephalic or oculovestibular testing can provide information regarding cranial nerves III, IV, VI, and VIII. In general terms, patients with intact brainstem functioning should have a normal response to these maneuvers.

How do you assess cranial nerve in a comatose patient?

Cranial nerve V may be tested in the comatose patient with the corneal reflex test. Cranial nerve VII may be examined by observing facial grimicing in response to a noxious stimulus. Cranial nerves IX an X may be evaluated with the gag reflex.

What is the first thing to be examined in an unconscious patient?

The initial step in the evaluation of an unconscious patient is to evaluate for the basic signs of life. The American Heart Association recommends examining for a pulse, followed by assessing airway patency and breathing pattern.

How do you test the power of an unconscious patient?

To determine if the patient is unconscious and unable to follow commands, use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to test eye opening, best motor response, and best verbal response. An unconscious patient is likely to open her eyes only in response to pain, if at all; obviously, you can’t test her best verbal response at all.

Why do doctors check your eyes when unconscious?

You’ve seen it on television: A doctor shines a bright light into an unconscious patient’s eye to check for brain death. If the pupil constricts, the brain is OK, because in mammals, the brain controls the pupil.

What is the management of an unconscious patient?

How is unconsciousness treated? If unconsciousness is due to low blood pressure, a doctor will administer medication by injection to increase blood pressure. If low blood sugar levels are the cause, the unconscious person may need an injection of glucose or something sweet to eat.

How do you assess the gag reflex in an unconscious patient?

There is no standardization of how the gag reflex is tested:

  1. Most texts recommend touching the posterior pharynx, but some recommend touching the back of the tongue.
  2. The instrument used and amount of pressure applied to the pharynx isn’t standardized.

What is the nursing management of unconscious patient?

Care of Unconscious Patient Maintaining patient’s airway. Protecting the patient from falling off the bed. Maintaining fluid balance and managing nutritional needs. Maintaining skin integrity. Preventing urinary retention.

What are the steps in initial assessment of a patient who is lying unconscious and not responding?

What you need to do

  1. Step 1 of 5: Open the airway. Place one hand on the person’s forehead and gently tilt their head back.
  2. Step 2 of 5: Check breathing.
  3. Step 3 of 5: Put them in the recovery position.
  4. Step 4 of 5: If you suspect spinal injury.
  5. Step 5 of 5: Call for help.

Can you open your eyes if you are unconscious?

As soon as patients open their eyes, they are said to “awaken” from the coma. This does not, however, mean that a person is conscious. Most patients who awaken from a coma soon recuperate. But a minority will succumb to brain death; a brain that is dead is completely destroyed and cannot recover.

What do your eyes do when unconscious?

pupils are equal and reactive to light. passive eyelid opening results in pupillary constriction, whereas if the patient is sleeping or comatose (with intact pupillary reflexes) the pupils dilate on passive eyelid opening.