COMA-OCCULOCEPHALIC TESTING

SUMMARY

1. Oculocephalic (doll's eyes) and ice-water caloric testing (eyes look ipsilaterally to ice) test the same vestibular brainstem: ocular muscle pathway.

2. The complete absence of eye movement in response to oculovestibular testing indicates either severe disruption of brainstern tegmental systems (midbrain or pons) or a profound overdose of sedative, anesthetic, or anticonvulsant drugs.

Reference(s)

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Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].