You examine a "sleepy" patient. You note that she will open her eyes and look at you but responds slowly and is confused. She does not appear interested in her surroundings. How would you describe her level of consciousness?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An obtunded patient is responsive but slow speaking and is less interested in her surroundings. A patient with lethargy opens her eyes to verbal cues and may respond appropriately but promptly falls back to sleep. The stuporous patient responds only to painful stimuli, and when the stimulus is withdrawn lapses into unconsciousness again. Such patients have little awareness of self or the environment. The comatose patient has no obvious response to external stimuli.

You Examine a "Sleepy" Patient