what kind of patient is this?

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so i have a pt this has a traumatic brain injury (pedestrian vs car). he is on a trach, PEG tube, craniectomies. he is completely dependent. he open his eyes spontaneously but does not look at anyone in particular. so what would I could this pt, vegetative?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Is he responsive to painful/obnoxious stimuli?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Check his responses on the Glasgow coma scale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Coma_Scale

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definitely a 3 on the GCS

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Specializes in Cardiac.

No, he's not a 3 on the GCS if he opens his eyes spontaneously...

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whoops. i mean when he was first admitted, he was a 3. i would say a 7.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Did you test him for a response to painful stimuli or are you just assumming that he has no response?

If he responds to pain then I would say he's awake and responsive only to painful stimuli...

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