Targeted temperature management should be implemented in the context of a broader strategy of critical care for a comatose patient with the post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
coma
Glasgow Coma Score
The Glasgow Coma Scale provides a score in the range 3-15; patients with scores of 3-8 are usually said to be in a coma. The total score is the sum of the scores in three categories. For adults the scores are as follows:
FOUR Score for Comatose Patients
The Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score provides greater neurological detail than the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), recognizes a locked-in syndrome, and is superior to the GCS due to the availability of brainstem reflexes, breathing patterns, and the ability to recognize different stages of herniation.