Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The diagnosis of hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) is based on the identification of a phenotype characterized as a slowly progressive, symmetric, spastic paraparesis in which the…
Principles of Immunomodulating Treatment
INTRODUCTION Print Section Listen The ideal of every patient and physician is to identify a diagnosis whose natural history is self-limited, or if not, a diagnosis for which an effective…
Approach to Patients with Neuromuscular Disease
GENERAL PRINCIPLES Print Section Listen The evaluation of patients with suspected neurologic disease remains first and foremost a bedside exercise. Accurate diagnosis requires consideration of individual patient and disease differences….
Brain Death and Organ Donation
Case Print Section Listen A 55-year-old right-handed woman presents to the emergency department (ED) because of sudden loss of consciousness. The patient has a history of tobacco smoking as well…
Bleeding Disorders and Coagulopathy Reversal
Case Print Section Listen A 60-year-old woman with a history of Crohn’s disease, factor V Leiden thrombophilia, and significant vascular and thrombotic disease in her left leg presents with headache….
Disorders of Water Homeostasis: Hypo- and Hypernatremia
Introduction Print Section Listen Critically ill patients are prone to a wide variety of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base disorders. Two of those disorders are of particular relevance to patients with…
Common Infections in the ICU
Case Print Section Listen A 66-year-old man with no known medical history was admitted after a fall while working at a silo on his farm. On physical examination, he had…
Acute Kidney Injury
Case Print Section Listen A 72-year-old-man, recently treated for resistant Escherichia coli urosepsis, is sent to the emergency department from his nursing home because of new left-sided hemiparesis. He has…
Nutrition and Metabolic Support
Case Print Section Listen A 71-year-old Caucasian man was brought to the emergency department (ED) for left-sided weakness and confusion. According to his wife, he was found on the floor…
Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections
Case Print Section Listen A 72-year-old man with a history of stroke, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and metastatic lung cancer with known metastases to the brain and bone presents with status epilepticus….
