Vertigo presentations in the emergency department.
Vertigo is among the most common reasons that patients present to the emergency department. Even though the cause is typically a benign disorder, management decisions can be challenging because some sinister causes-such as stroke-can mimic benign peripheral vestibular disorders. Fortunately, common benign peripheral vestibular disorders all have characteristic features enabling a bedside diagnosis. Thus the most effective way to "rule-out" a central disorder is to "rule-in" a specific peripheral vestibular disorder. In this article, the author emphasizes the key elements of the bedside examination and describes a method for managing vertigo patients in the emergency department.
Kerber
Kevin A
KA
Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0322, USA. kakerber@umich.edu
D000208:Acute Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*