Survey study of the etiology of non-traumatic altered consciousness in the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital in Egypt

BACKGROUND Disorders of consciousness including coma in non-trauma patients can be caused by a wide variety of pathologies affecting the central nervous system.They represent a frequent challenge in emergency medicine and are combined with a very high in-hospital mortality.Hence,early treatment of these patients is vital and increases the likelihood of a good outcome.AIM To identify the causes of altered consciousness presentation to the Emergency Department at Suez Canal University Hospital.METHODS This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 87 patients with acute non-traumatic disturbed level of consciousness(DLOC)at the Emergency Department.RESULTS The mean age of the studied patients was 60.5±13.6 years.Among them,60%were males and 40%were females.The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infection,such as sepsis and septic shock(25.3%),followed by respiratory causes(24.1%)and neurological causes(18.4%).CONCLUSION The most common cause of acute non-traumatic DLOC was systemic infections followed by respiratory and neurological causes.

Cervical spine clearance in obtunded patients after severe polytrauma

Objective： To provide clinicians with data supporting three different clearance techniques in the obtunded patients after severe polytrauma. Methods： This study gave an overview of the available and pertinent literature regarding cervical spine clearance in obtunded patients after severe polytrauma. Results： Currently, there were three accepted techniques for clearance of the cervical spine in obtunded patients after severe polytrauma. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages to both of the patients and the clinicians, Conclusions： There are continuous improvements in both computed tomography （CT） and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） techniques that increase their sensitivities. The continued use of plain radiographs is called into question with respect to cost and time requirements. An algorithmic approach to the evaluation of the cervical spine in the obtunded patients will lead to fewer missed injuries.