[Management of patients with altered mental status in the Emergency Department].

Patients who present to the Emergency Department with altered mental status may suffer from serious, time-sensitive conditions where appropriate initial management improves prognosis. The differential diagnoses of altered mental status is broad and the assessment is complicated by the patient's inability to provide a detailed history. This article presents a systematic approach to patients with altered mental status in the Emergency Department.

Human cerebral blood volume (CBV) measured by dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI and 99mTc-RBC SPECT.

Background: Patients with elevated intracranial pressure risk compromising their cerebral blood flow, resulting in ischemia. Lowering of the raised intracranial pressure, is therefore, mandatory. Reduction of the cerebral blood volume (CBV) might be target.