Background: Altered mental status (AMS) is prevalent in hospitalized patients, especially the elderly (1). The work up of AMS is based on history, physical exam, pertinent labs and imaging. Common etiologies include fluid and electrolyte disturbances, infections, drug toxicity, drug withdrawal and metabolic derangements. Many routine labs drawn in the evaluation of acute encephalopathy are [...]

Case Presentation: A 74-year-old male with a past medical history of Stage III CKD and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was initially taken to his PCP by his wife for changes in his mental status, trouble remembering things and following directions while driving. As his outpatient workup was ongoing, he also developed a fever with chills and [...]

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old female with no medical history presented with worsening mental status for 3 months. All history was given by family. Three months prior to presentation she began experiencing a generalized, persistent headache. A neurologist prescribed nortriptyline for presumed migraines, with improvement. In the month prior to presentation, the patient had become less [...]

Case Presentation: This is a 64 year old male with a past medical history of bipolar disorder without previous psychiatric admissions, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke and autoimmune encephalitis that presented to the emergency room from a subacute rehabilitation facility (month long stay since an L3-L4 discectomy) with altered mental status. While at the rehabilitation [...]

Case Presentation: An 83-year-old woman presented as a transfer to our center for higher level of care in the setting of a mechanical fall with left femur fracture complicated by altered mental status (AMS) and acute onset atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response (RVR). A past medical history was significant for COPD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, [...]