scholarly journals When the grass isn’t greener: a case series of young children with accidental marijuana ingestion

CJEM ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 480-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Murray ◽  
Joshua Olson ◽  
Ana Sofia Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
The Past ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Local Emergency Department ◽  
Marijuana Intoxication

AbstractMarijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in Canada, with 10% of the general population admitting to its use in the past year. This high prevalence increases risk of accidental ingestion in young children.We report four pediatric cases of accidental marijuana ingestion who presented to our local emergency department with altered mental status. Three patients had extensive testing, including one patient who underwent lumbar puncture and empirical treatment for meningitis. To our knowledge, this is the first Canadian case series since McNabb et al., published over 2 decades ago.The case series aims to highlight the importance of considering acute marijuana intoxication in the differential diagnosis when assessing young children with altered level of consciousness.

scholarly journals Altered Mental Status and Cyanosis in a Pediatric Patient with Methemoglobinemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Phillip M. Grenz ◽  
Robert N. Ray Jr. ◽  
Olivia A. Hardy ◽  
Andrew L. Koons ◽  
Kenneth D. Katz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Status ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
Abrupt Onset ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Sustained Improvement ◽  
Oxygen Dissociation ◽  
Nail Polish ◽  
Level Of Consciousness

Methemoglobinemia results from increased amounts of oxidized hemoglobin in the blood with an ensuing change in oxygen dissociation curve and lack of oxygen delivery to tissue. A previously well, male toddler was brought to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with abrupt onset of altered mental status and cyanosis after a suspected ingestion of “Rush” nail polish remover. He was quickly diagnosed with methemoglobinemia by both clinical presentation and chocolate-colored blood appearance. He emergently received intravenous (IV) methylene blue (MB) with immediate and sustained improvement requiring no further doses. Though inhalation of nitrites and subsequent methemoglobinemia is frequently reported in adolescents, we were unable to find any cases in the literature detailing ingestion of this product and the resulting clinical manifestations. Our objective with this report is to describe a rare case of a toddler with an accidental ingestion of “Rush” nail polish remover, a nitrite compound. Our patient presented to the PED with abrupt onset of altered level of consciousness, hypotension, and cyanosis resulting from acquired methemoglobinemia. This case report demonstrates the importance of emergency clinicians being able to make clinical judgements and decisions based on the history and physical exam when methemoglobinemia is suspected.

Delir erkennen in 3 Schritten

2019 ◽  
Vol 144 (23) ◽  
pp. 1619-1628
Author(s):  
Rebecca von Haken ◽  
Hans-Christian Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Curative Therapy ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Operative Care ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Triggering Mechanisms ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background Clinicians are commonly confronted with the differential diagnosis of altered mental status, impaired cognition and altered level of consciousness in hospitalized patients including those admitted to medical, geriatric, emergency, intensive and post-operative care units. Although delirium is the most common acute neuropsychiatric condition in the acute hospital setting this diagnosis is commonly delayed, made too late or missed altogether. Difficulties and importance of timely diagnosis The causes of delirious states are manifold. Both, direct damage to the brain tissue as well as encephalopathy as a result of other medical diseases, can be the cause of delirium. Depending on the predisposition delirious syndromes can be provoked by minor medical interventions. Clinical presentation is very variable, but remains largely independent of the triggering mechanisms. Purely catatonic, hypoactive, hyperactive and excitatory types as well as mixed forms can be distinguished.Immediate diagnosis of a delirious syndrome and rapid elucidation of its causes are keys for the implementation of curative therapy. There is a need to act fast because delirious phases are associated with significantly longer hospital stay and increased morbidity as a result of long-term cognitive deficits as well as increased mortality. As negative outcome is closely linked to the duration of a delirious episode, early diagnosis and rapid termination of the delirium constitute a significant positive predictor of outcome. In this respect, delirium represents an emergency, with or without concomitant cerebral or extracerebral symptoms.

scholarly journals Serotonin Syndrome Presenting as a Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Taimur Malik ◽  
Mohammad Faraz Majeed ◽  
Ramin Zand
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome ◽  
Serotonin Syndrome ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Unique Case ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Neurological Exam ◽  
Reversible Encephalopathy

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological syndrome characterized by an altered level of consciousness, headaches, seizure, and visual changes. PRES has several different etiologies, including malignant hypertension, eclampsia, and certain medications. Here, we describe a 41-year-old woman who presented with altered mental status. She had a preliminary diagnosis of serotonin syndrome as she was on many different serotonin-sparing agents, but her imaging findings were consistent with PRES. After her medications were reviewed and the causative agent was removed, the patient’s neurological exam and imaging findings improved, and she returned to her baseline. To our knowledge, this is a unique case of PRES caused by serotonin syndrome secondary to venlafaxine usage.

Oculogyric crisis masquerading as ventriculoperitoneal shunt dysfunction

2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 944-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nail H. AlAzwary ◽  
Taim Muayqil ◽  
Zaeem A. Siddiqi ◽  
S. Nizam Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ◽  
Differential Diagnoses ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
The Past ◽  
Oculogyric Crisis ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Neurology Clinic ◽  
Shunt Dysfunction

Oculogyric crisis (OGC) is an underrecognized oculodystonic reaction associated with several medications including carbamazepine. The authors present a patient who had presented to the emergency department on multiple occasions with a questionable ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt dysfunction. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, altered level of consciousness, ataxia, and vertical eye deviation. The patient underwent multiple revisions of the VP shunt with transient and questionable improvement. During her visit to the neurology clinic, OGC from carbamazepine was suspected, and the dose was reduced. The patient has been completely asymptomatic for the past 18 months. The authors report this case to increase the awareness of carbamazepine-induced OGC as one of the differential diagnoses for VP shunt dysfunction.

scholarly journals Risk Factors for DVT/PE in Patients with Stroke and Intracranial Hemorrhage

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Stecker ◽  
Kathleen Michel ◽  
Karin Antaky ◽  
Sarah Cherian ◽  
Feliks Koyfman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Altered Level ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Multivariable Analyses ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
Get With The Guidelines

Objective: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE) are serious problems for patients admitted to the hospital with stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). The purpose of this paper is to further understand the factors that place certain patients at increased risk of DVT/PE. Methods: At a 600 bed hospital, a retrospective analysis of data from 2613 patients admitted with a diagnosis of stroke, SAH, ICH or TIA in the time range 1/2008 through 3/2012 was carried out. The data was taken from the hospital’s Get with the Guidelines database and included 28 variables. These included initial NIH stroke scale, length of stay, heart failure, ambulatory by day 2 after admission, altered mental status,and renal failure among others. Multiple analyses were carried out to determine whether there were univariable or multivariable effects of any of the factors on the risk for DVT/PE. Results: The risk of DVT/PE was highest in patients with SAH and ICH and smallest with TIA. Multivariable analyses were performed and revealed only altered level of consciousness or heart failure as significant risks for DVT/PE. With the limited available data, administration of subcutaneous heparin or other chemoprophylaxis did not reduce the risk of DVT/PE. Conclusion: Although many of the variables used to describe the stroke patient are correlated, in multivariable analyses only heart failure and altered level of consciousness were important risk factors for DVT/PE. The risk of DVT/PE was 7 fold greater in patients in patients with both of these risk factors.

scholarly journals Neurological symptoms, manifestations, and complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biyan Nathanael Harapan ◽  
Hyeon Joo Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Neurological Symptoms ◽  
Neurological Manifestations ◽  
Fisher Syndrome ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, is responsible for the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenging world issue. Although most COVID-19 patients primarily develop respiratory symptoms, an increasing number of neurological symptoms and manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been observed. In this narrative review, we elaborate on proposed neurotropic mechanisms and various neurological symptoms, manifestations, and complications of COVID-19 reported in the present literature. For this purpose, a review of all current published literature (studies, case reports, case series, reviews, editorials, and other articles) was conducted and neurological sequelae of COVID-19 were summarized. Essential and common neurological symptoms including gustatory and olfactory dysfunctions, myalgia, headache, altered mental status, confusion, delirium, and dizziness are presented separately in sections. Moreover, neurological manifestations and complications that are of great concern such as stroke, cerebral (sinus) venous thrombosis, seizures, meningoencephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, Miller Fisher syndrome, acute myelitis, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) are also addressed systematically. Future studies that examine the impact of neurological symptoms and manifestations on the course of the disease are needed to further clarify and assess the link between neurological complications and the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19. To limit long-term consequences, it is crucial that healthcare professionals can early detect possible neurological symptoms and are well versed in the increasingly common neurological manifestations and complications of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy after Cerebral Angiogram: A Case Series and Review of Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 405-413
Author(s):  
Cecelia Allison ◽  
Vaibhav Sharma ◽  
Jason Park ◽  
Clemens M. Schirmer ◽  
Ramin Zand
Keyword(s):  
Rare Complication ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Cortical Blindness ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Cerebral Angiogram ◽  
Iodinated Contrast Medium ◽  
Iodinated Contrast

Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare complication that arises from exposure to iodinated contrast medium and can result in a range of symptoms, including cortical blindness, aphasia, focal neurological deficits, and altered mental status. We present 4 individual cases of CIE who presented with stroke-mimic symptoms following surgery with localized iodixanol or ioversol injection. We outline a clinical timeline of all patients, showing that CIE follows a general pattern of delayed onset, worsening symptomology, and ultimately full recovery. All patients received IV hydration, corticosteroids, or both as part of their treatment protocol.

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