FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
AACN NEURO-encepalopathy BLUEPRINT ACNPC-
AG Exam Questions and Answers
Encephalopathy - Ans:✔✔-Definition: Inability to carry out a coherent plan of thought or
Action.
What mental status exam tests would you do in an
encephalopathic patient? level of alertness, orientation, and attention
What test for encephalopathy? Vital signs and labs; Brain imaging can be normal but EEG shows
encephalopathy, EEG can be useful for testing encephalopathy because [1] can help to differentiate
neuro vs. psych; [2]. Rule out subclinical seizures or "non-convulsive status epilepticus" (encephalopathy
mimic)
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Mimics of Encephalopathy include: Dementia with Lewy Bodies; REM sleep behavior disorder (act out
dreams) and parasomnias (sleepwalking); Wernicke's aphasia; Psychosis, mania, depression;
Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (last two: differentiate with EEG)
The hallmark of encephalopathy is: Impaired ATTENTION (early finding in delirium, late
finding in dementia)
Symptoms of encephalopathy include: Hallucinations, delusions, agitation or lethargy; Irritation to light
touch; Withdraw limbs unequally; Asterixis, myoclonus, tremor, sometimes hyperreflexia (acute liver
malfunction)/hyporeflexia (thyroid derangement)
T/F: Encephalopathy is often multifactorial: TRUE
Why does encephalopathy occur? Metabolic homeostasis imbalance
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