ABSTRACT
Encephalopathy is a derangement in mental status or level of consciousness secondary to a
disease process extrinsic to the brain (1). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often
become confused or combative during their stay. The study by Fraser et al. (2) reports
that a percentage of ICU patients as high as 74% experience at least one episode of con-
fusion or encephalopathy (2). These episodes can be frightening to the patient and their
loved ones and frustrating to the caregivers. Defining the etiology of the confusion and
differentiating between emergency and non-emergency causes are essential to appropriate,
prompt, and possibly life-saving treatment of the patient.
