Impaired Consciousness in the Emergency Department.

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 standardization. One reason for this is that data on causes, management, and outcome of patients who present to the ED with sudden onset unconsciousness of unknown cause is limited.

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the causes of acute impaired consciousness in patients in an interdisciplinary ED.