DELIRIUM - 05/09/11

Doi : 10.1016/S0733-8627(05)70121-8

Barbara A. Murphy, MD, FACEP

Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

Resumen

Delirium is a true medical emergency that occurs frequently but is commonly overlooked.^{1 Armstrong S., Cozza K., Watanabe K. The misdiagnosis of delirium Psychosomatics 1997 ; 38 : 433

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias} Although it is not emphasized in the curriculum of emergency medicine, delirium can be the sole presentation of an acute life-threatening illness.^{10 Inouye S. The dilemma of delirium: Clinical and research controversies regarding diagnosis and evaluation of delirium in hospitalized elderly medical patients Am J Med 1994 ; 97 : 278 [cross-ref]

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias} The extremely subtle clinical and historical findings in the delirious patient can be easily missed in the constraints of a busy emergency department (ED) or dismissed as a dementing process or a psychiatric disorder.^{10 Inouye S. The dilemma of delirium: Clinical and research controversies regarding diagnosis and evaluation of delirium in hospitalized elderly medical patients Am J Med 1994 ; 97 : 278 [cross-ref]

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias, 13 Lewis L., Miller D., Morley J. , y al. Unrecognized delirium in emergency department geriatric patients Am J Emerg Med 1995 ; 13 : 142 [cross-ref]

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias} This article reviews the origin, historical and clinical features, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and management of delirium.