Delirium other diagnostic studies: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Investigations | |||
To identify underlying etiology following investigations are recommended: | |||
* Complete blood count | |||
{{WH}} | * Serum Calcium | ||
{{WS}} | |||
* Kidney function tests | |||
* electrolytes | |||
* Liver function tests | |||
* Blood sugar level | |||
* Thyroid function tests | |||
* Chest X‑ray | |||
* ECG | |||
* Blood cultures | |||
* Urinalysis | |||
'''If indicated: | |||
** EEG | |||
** CT head | |||
** B12 and folate levels | |||
** Arterial blood gases | |||
** Specific cultures eg urine, sputum | |||
** Lumbar puncture | |||
===EEG=== | |||
Although the EEG is frequently abnormal in those with delirium [27‑29], showing diffuse slowing, its routine use as a diagnostic tool has not been fully evaluated. EEG may be useful where there is difficulty in the following situations (grade III): | |||
· Differentiating delirium from dementia | |||
· Differentiating delirium from non‑convulsive status epilepticus and temporal lobe epilepsy | |||
· Identifying those patients in whom the delirium is due to a focal intracranial lesion, rather than a global abnormality. | |||
===Lumbar puncture=== | |||
Although various abnormalities have been seen in the CSF of patients with delirium [30], routine LP is not helpful [31] in identifying an underlying cause for the delirium (grade III). It should therefore be reserved for those in whom there is reason to suspect a cause such as meningitis. This might include patients with the following features: | |||
· Meningism | |||
· Headache and fever<ref>{{Cite web | last = | first = | title = http://www.bgs.org.uk/Word%20Downloads/delirium.doc | url = http://www.bgs.org.uk/Word%20Downloads/delirium.doc | publisher = | date = | accessdate =}}</ref> | |||
* ==References== | |||
* {{Reflist|2}} | |||
* [[Category:Neurology]] | |||
* [[Category:Psychiatry]] | |||
* {{WH}} | |||
* {{WS}}''' | |||
Revision as of 18:26, 14 February 2014
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Delirium Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Delirium On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Delirium |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vishal Khurana, M.B.B.S., M.D. [2]
Overview
Investigations
To identify underlying etiology following investigations are recommended:
- Complete blood count
- Serum Calcium
- Kidney function tests
- electrolytes
- Liver function tests
- Blood sugar level
- Thyroid function tests
- Chest X‑ray
- ECG
- Blood cultures
- Urinalysis
If indicated:
- EEG
- CT head
- B12 and folate levels
- Arterial blood gases
- Specific cultures eg urine, sputum
- Lumbar puncture
EEG
Although the EEG is frequently abnormal in those with delirium [27‑29], showing diffuse slowing, its routine use as a diagnostic tool has not been fully evaluated. EEG may be useful where there is difficulty in the following situations (grade III):
· Differentiating delirium from dementia
· Differentiating delirium from non‑convulsive status epilepticus and temporal lobe epilepsy
· Identifying those patients in whom the delirium is due to a focal intracranial lesion, rather than a global abnormality.
Lumbar puncture
Although various abnormalities have been seen in the CSF of patients with delirium [30], routine LP is not helpful [31] in identifying an underlying cause for the delirium (grade III). It should therefore be reserved for those in whom there is reason to suspect a cause such as meningitis. This might include patients with the following features:
· Meningism
· Headache and fever[1]
- ==References==
- ↑ "http://www.bgs.org.uk/Word%20Downloads/delirium.doc". External link in
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