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You arrive to find a young male eyes open and anxiously looking around. He can not answer any questions at all. You pinch him and he groans, but you do not recognizable any of the words. He cannot follow commands and when touched, he grabs your hand and will not easily let go. What is his GCS?

User Tzimpo
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Final answer:

The young male patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 11, comprising eye response at 4, verbal response at 2, and motor response at 5.

His neurological symptoms suggest the potential for a stroke, which requires further diagnostic imaging such as a CT scan and possible management with aspirin for preventing blood clots.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario provided suggests that the young male patient is experiencing a significant medical event, affecting both his cognitive and neurological functions. To assess his condition, healthcare professionals would use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which is a tool for gauging consciousness in trauma and critical care. The GCS evaluates three aspects of a patient's responsiveness: eye-opening, verbal response, and motor response.

According to the provided information and GCS criteria, for Eye response (E), since the patient's eyes are open, he would score a 4. For Verbal response (V), as he groans but does not utter recognizable words, he would score a 2. For Motor response (M), as his response to pain (pinching) is non-specific (groaning) and he is able to grab the examiner's hand but doesn't let go easily, he would score a 5 for localized pain. Therefore, the patient's GCS would potentially be a total of 11 (E4 + V2 + M5).

The symptoms of paralysis, difficulty in swallowing, and sensory loss (pins and needles) point toward a neurological dysfunction which could be attributed to several causes, including stroke. Initial management with aspirin is indicative of a suspicion for an embolic event like a stroke. A CT scan would be pivotal in confirming the diagnosis and guiding further treatment.

User Leeyuiwah
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