Neurologic complications in non-neurological intensive care units

Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez; Thomas Wolfe; Dhruvil J Pandya; Viktor Szeder; Marta Lopez-Vicente; Osama O Zaidat

doi:10.1097/NRL.0b013e31819bd9d6

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Neurologic complications in non-neurological intensive care units

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Neurologic complications in non-neurological intensive care units

Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez, Thomas Wolfe, Dhruvil J Pandya, Viktor Szeder, Marta Lopez-Vicente and Osama O Zaidat

The Neurologist (Baltimore, Md.), Vol.15(5), pp.254-267

09/2009

DOI: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e31819bd9d6

PMID: 19741432

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Abstract

Neurologists are frequently called to evaluate patients in the intensive care units who are not waking up. This often poses a diagnostic and prognostic dilemma. The initial evaluation starts with abstracting the prehospital and in-hospital history, followed by bedside clinical and neurologic examination to establish a differential diagnosis. The subsequent work-up is based on clinical suspicion where reversible life-threatening causes should be immediately identified. After confirming the diagnosis and implementation of the appropriate medical management, a prompt family meeting and counseling is recommended. The role of neurologists in clinical diagnosis and prognostication of the coma patient, as well as diagnosing brain death is instrumental. In this review, we explore a practical systematic approach to patients with decreased level of consciousness. The most common causes of impaired alertness in different non-neurologic critical care units and commonly used prognostication tools are presented. Finally a brief introduction of hypothermia, a novel therapeutic approach is also discussed.

Brain Death

Diagnosis, Differential

Intensive Care Units

Prognosis

Humans

Tissue and Organ Procurement

Coma - diagnosis

Nervous System Diseases - complications

Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis

Coma - complications

Hypothermia - complications

Nervous System Diseases - etiology

Hypothermia - diagnosis

Hypothermia - therapy

Coma - etiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Neurologic complications in non-neurological intensive care units
Creators: Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez - Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Thomas Wolfe
Dhruvil J Pandya
Viktor Szeder
Marta Lopez-Vicente
Osama O Zaidat
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Neurologist (Baltimore, Md.), Vol.15(5), pp.254-267
DOI: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e31819bd9d6
PMID: 19741432
NLM abbreviation: Neurologist
ISSN: 1074-7931
eISSN: 2331-2637
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 09/2009
Academic Unit: Neurology; Radiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery
Record Identifier: 9984020654502771

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6 Times Cited - Web of Science