bleeding tendencies (low platelet/ dengue, clotting factor disorder) can also result in spontaneous bleeding. 57. Whether a patient suffering from Stroke / cerebrovascular accident may die due to aspiration pneumonia? Aspiration pneumonia remains a possible complication (which may appear as consolidation in later stage) in a patient suffering from CVA and who is bed ridden for long period. Broncho-pneumonia could be a possible complication in a patient suffering from chronic illness like Diabetes mellitus, hypertension etc. 58. What do we mean by GCS Score? The GCS (Glasgo Coma Scale) is a medical test which scores an individual's response to certain stimuli. It is marked out of 15. The score of 15/15 means someone is completely alert, whereas 3/15 re lects someone who is unconscious. However, just because the initial GCS was low, does not necessarily mean that the consequences will be serious and vice versa. 59. What are the criteria for admitting patients to hospital · . . . . . . . following a head injury? As per the Multi Organizational Consensus Recommendations for India in traumatic brain injury. Available at http://www.ntsi.co.in/Version.pdf Following are the admission criteria Deteriorating GCS Focal or abnormal neurological signs Early post-traumatic seizure Skull fracture High-risk mechanism of injury Patients whose GCS has not returned to 15 after imaging, regardless of the imaging results When a patient has indications for CT scanning but this cannot be done within the appropriate period, either because CT is not available or because the patient is not suf iciently cooperative to allow scanning Continuing worrying signs (persistent vomiting, severe headaches, MEDICAL DIMENSION OF FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED CASES | 48