Investigating altered consciousness (summary)
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Altered consciousness or confusion is a common reason for admission to hospital, and involvement of radiology 1,2.
Although the most common reason for acute confusion is intoxication which will improve - when altered neurology is present or the changes persists, more serious reasons need investigated.
Reference article
This is a summary article; we do not have a more in-depth reference article.
Summary
-
questions
- any systemic cause for confusion?
- sepsis, hypoglycaemia and drug interactions
- any direct causes?
- trauma, pressure effects, infarction or infection
- are there any focal signs?
- is there any relevant medication history?
- anticoagulants, alcohol, narcotics?
- any systemic cause for confusion?
-
investigations
- CT head is the first line investigation, especially in the acute setting
- 10% of patients will have a cause found 1
- MRI can be used, but usually only after CT
- CT head is the first line investigation, especially in the acute setting
-
making the request
- what is the likely underlying cause of confusion?
- what is the urgency of the study?
- common pathology
Teaching playlist
-<li>space occupying lesions, e.g. <a href="/articles/intracranial-tumours-summary">tumour</a>, <a href="/articles/cerebral-abscess-summary">abscess</a>- +<li>space-occupying lesions, e.g. <a href="/articles/intracranial-tumours-summary">tumour</a>, <a href="/articles/cerebral-abscess-summary">abscess</a>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.