Obtundation
| Obtundation | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Obtundation refers to less than full alertness (altered level of consciousness), typically as a result of a medical condition or trauma.[1]
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.[2]
The root word, obtund, means "dulled or less sharp" cf. obtuse angle.
See also
References
- ^ 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.
External links
The dictionary definition of obtundation at Wiktionary
