All chapters
Medical Emergencies · Chapter 11 Not started
Altered Mental Status
Working through the many causes of a patient who isn't acting right — from sugar to seizures to stroke.
Key points
- AEIOU-TIPS is a memory aid for causes: Alcohol, Epilepsy, Insulin, Overdose, Uremia, Trauma/Temperature, Infection, Psychiatric, Stroke/Shock.
- Hypoglycemia can look like intoxication and develops fast — a diabetic who is awake and can swallow gets oral glucose or sugar.
- For seizures: protect from injury, never restrain or put anything in the mouth, and place in the recovery position afterward.
- Stroke screening checks facial droop, arm drift, and speech (FAST — Face, Arms, Speech, Time); note the time last known normal and move fast.
- Any altered patient gets an airway watch — losing the gag reflex means losing the airway.
- Assume trauma and hypothermia may coexist with any altered mental status found outdoors.
Knowledge check1 / 3