Background Non-traumatic coma (NTC) is a serious condition requiring swift medical or
surgical decision making upon arrival at the emergency department. Knowledge of the most …

Importance Tracheal intubation is recommended for coma patients and those with severe
brain injury, but its use in patients with decreased levels of consciousness from acute …

Inborn urea cycle disorders are under-recognised metabolic causes of hyperammonemia in
adults. A 28-year-old primigravida, seven weeks pregnant, affected by hyperemesis …

Background Coma of unknown etiology (CUE) is a major challenge in emergency medicine.
CUE is caused by a wide variety of pathologies that require immediate and targeted …

Unconscious patients are commonly seen by physicians. They are challenging to manage
and in a time sensitive condition, a systematic, team approach is required. Early …

Background Coma of unknown origin is an emergency caused by a variety of possibly life-
threatening pathologies. Although lethality is high, there are currently no generally accepted …

Background: The approach to unconscious patients in the emergency department (ED) is
difficult, often depends on local resources and interests, and workup strategies often lack …

Toxic-metabolic encephalopathy (TME) results from an acute cerebral dysfunction due to
different metabolic disturbances including medications or illicit-drugs. It can lead to altered …

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of coma among
patients in critical care units in Chile. We also aimed to provide insight into the demographic …

Functional coma–here defined as a prolonged motionless dissociative attack with absent or
reduced response to external stimuli–is a relatively rare presentation. In this chapter we …