title: Current clinical approach to patients with disorders of consciousness.
abstract: In clinical practice, hospital admission of patients with altered level of consciousness, sleepy or in a non-responsive state is extremely common. This clinical condition requires an effective investigation and early treatment. Performing a focused and objective evaluation is critical, with quality history taking and physical examination capable to locate the lesion and define conducts. Imaging and laboratory exams have played an increasingly important role in supporting clinical research. In this review, the main types of changes in consciousness are discussed as well as the essential points that should be evaluated in the clinical management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: PhD - Assistant Physician of the Neurosurgical Emergency Unit, Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Luis Oliveira de
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Nurse - MSc Student at the Neurosurgical Emergency Unit, Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Mitie
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nagumo
authors.affiliation: Habilitation (BR: Livre-docência) - Professor of the Neurosurgical Emergency Unit, Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellingson Silva
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Habilitation (BR: Livre-docência) - Professor of the Neurosurgical Emergency Unit, Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Almir Ferreira de
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Habilitation (BR: Livre-docência) - Full Professor of the Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas, FMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel Jacobsen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003243:Consciousness; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic