Kallela Mikko, Häppölä Olli, Eriksson Heidi
Duodecim. 2014;130(4):368-82.
Unconsciousness is a directly life-threatening condition that requires immediate action to reveal its cause. The cause of unconsciousness is usually metabolic or toxic and in the rest of the cases structural and intracranial. Unconsciousness results from a disturbance of function of either the reticular activating system or both cerebral hemispheres. Treatment of an unconscious person begins with the confirmation of vital functions. Special attention is paid on head and neck injuries, meningism, pupillary inequality and papillary stasis. Both radiological and laboratory investigations are usually required. Owing to its quickness, CT scan of the head is the basic neurological examination, adequately revealing the common intracranial causes. Treating an unconscious patient calls for the complete range of a physician's expertise. Determined action and knowledge of common and treatable diseases will, however, bring the situation under control.
昏迷是一种直接危及生命的状况，需要立即采取行动以查明其病因。昏迷的病因通常是代谢性或中毒性的，其余情况则是结构性和颅内性的。昏迷是由网状激活系统或双侧大脑半球功能紊乱所致。对昏迷患者的治疗始于确认生命体征。要特别注意头部和颈部损伤、脑膜刺激征、瞳孔不等大和瞳孔固定。通常需要进行影像学和实验室检查。由于其快捷性，头部CT扫描是基本的神经学检查，能充分揭示常见的颅内病因。治疗昏迷患者需要医生具备全面的专业知识。然而，果断的行动以及对常见可治疾病的了解将使病情得到控制。
