Encephalopathy

  • Definition
    • Generalized brain dysfunction due to underlying systemic factors, causing acute mental status alteration that returns to baseline when corrected.
    • Almost ALL acute mental status change will be encephalopathy.
  • Metabolic
    • Hypoxia, hypercarbia
    • Dehydration
    • Organ failure
    • Electrolyte abnormalities, hypoglycemia
    • Infection, sepsis
  • Toxic – due to ingestion of any substance

WHAT TO DO

  • Document acute encephalopathy (specify type) instead of altered mental status or delirium.
  • Document what behavior you are seeing, what the patient’s baseline is, and the underlying cause of the behavior change.