Dlm Flashcards
Impairment of consciousness - 4 terms?
cloudiness, drowsiness, supor, coma
alertness?
can be hyper alert (cctv), hypo alert, or mixed
orientation?
disorientated in TIME mostly, can also be disorientated in place and person
most common emotion? (masks)
fear
what kind of intervals do you get?
lucid intervals
auditory hallucinations - what are they usually?
threatening
delusions are usually?
persecutory (harm is coming)
sleep - what happens?
insomnia, sleep loss, nocturnal worsening of symptoms, disturbing dreams and nightmares
how do heart problems cause delirium?
hypoxia in brain
respiratory problems?
hypoxia
other causes?
thyroid, liver failure, pancreatitis, renal failure, UTI, infections (max), head injury, encephalitis, tumours, epilepsy, drug/alcohol intoxication
hypothermia/hyperthermia can cause delirium
y
prescribed drugs that can cause it?
cemetidine, anti parkinsonian, anti cholinergic, anti convulsants, sedatives (benzos), opiods
withdrawal from 4 things ?
alcohol, benzos, barbiturates, illicit drugs
hypoxia, hypoglycaemia, thyroid problems, carcinoid syndrome can cause delirium
y
investigations?
cover all main causes i.e. CXR, TFTs, FBC, Us and Es
why would you do MRI/CT brain?
stroke/tumours
what kind of management do these patients need?
bright room , low staff changes, calendar, clock, glasses, hearing aids,
why cautious with sedating drugs?
can make them more confused
alcohol withdrawl - what drug?
chlordiazepoxide
treatment of delirium (normal)
haloperidol orally then IM
what 3 conditions would you give lorazepam?
parkinsons, lewy body dementia, neuroleptic syndrome
why need to review frequently?
although it can improve quickly, it can also worsen quickly
what is the mean duration of delirium?
1-4 weeks
what 2 conditions is depression very common after?
stroke and MI
