Anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and strokes causing impaired consciousness.
Coma due to global or focal ischemia or hemorrhage is reviewed. Impaired consciousness due to anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest is common but prognostically problematic. Recent guidelines need to be refined for those patients who have received therapeutic hypothermia. Strokes, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, can affect the level of consciousness by damaging specific brain structures involved in alertness because of widespread cerebral injury or secondary cerebral or systemic complications.
Division of Neurology and Interventional Neuroradiology, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus, C-2174, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada. mbussiere@toh.on.ca
Miguel
M
Bussière
G Bryan
GB
Young
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D059906:Neuroimaging; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy