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Coma

Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Immediate management
Prevention
Prognosis
Immediate management

Look for evidence of hypoglycaemia c

Why?

Altered mental state: absence of hypoglycaemia symptoms does not exclude hypoglycaemia

Patient Target Disorder and
Reference Standard
Diagnostic Test LR+
(95% CI)
Post-test Probability LR-
(95% CI)
Post-test Probability
altered mental state c (pre-test probability: 9%) hypoglycaemia
(blood glucose or clinical diagnosis)
any of tachycardia, sweating or available history of diabetes mellitus 1.7
(1.3 to 2.1)
14% 0.45
(0.23 to 0.86)
4%

Expiry date: September 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   W   Whiteley , CM   Ball
Reviewer   M   Daniel
CAT Writers   W   Whiteley , CM   Ball