Altered Level of Consciousness
Hypoglycemia
Metabolic disease
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems
- Describe in basic terms the pathophysiology of brain injury
- Describe how the brain maintains consciousness, how unconsciousness occurs and the differences between unconsciousness and sleep
- Name and classify the most common CNS pathogens, based on organism type and area of brain commonly affected
- Discuss the indications for the use of the different modalities available to assess neurologic structure and function
- Describe metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities that cause altered level of consciousness
Overview & Foundational Knowledge
| Learn Pediatrics: Approach to the Comatose Child
http://learn.pediatrics.ubc.ca/body-systems/nervous-syste/approach-to-the-comatose-child/ Nicely structured and practical approach. Definitions of various stats of comatose child. Questions to ask on history, differential diagnosis of comatose child, physical examination findings and management |
| Avner JR. Altered States of Consciousness. Pediatrics in Review 2006; 27 (9): 331-338.
Approach to altered level of consciousness.
https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.27-9-331 Common causes, differential diagnosis, (quite detailed) table on herniation syndromes and management. |
Clinical Resources
| Management of the paediatric patient with acute head trauma
https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/acute-head-trauma CPS Position Statement |
| Bottom Line Recommendations: Severe Head Trauma
https://cms.trekk.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-10-12SevereHeadInjuryBLR_FINAL_v3.0.pdf TREKK Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids |
Virtual Patients or Cases
| Case: Altered mental status – a state of confusion
https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/15.5.263 Paediatrics & Child Health, Volume 15, Issue 5, 5/6 2010, Pages 263–265, https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/15.5.263 |
| Altered Mental Status Module
The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) module on Altered Mental Status |
Cards
| Altered Level of Consciousness
Altered Level of Consciousness Canuc-Paeds physician authored, replayable cases |
