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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
07:37
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Integrative basic sciences: change in mental status.
1Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. ecrane@med.wayne.edu
Clinical Pediatrics
|October 22, 2008
Summary
This case highlights how understanding basic physiology, like acid-base balance, aids in diagnosing altered mental status. It shows ethanol toxicity as a cause, emphasizing the link between basic science and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Clinical Physiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Integrates basic science into clinical teaching.
- Focuses on altered mental status (AMS) and its physiological underpinnings.
- Utilizes anatomy and physiology to guide differential diagnosis.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old boy presented with unresponsiveness and altered mental status.
- Physical examination was largely unremarkable.
- Initial laboratory studies included arterial blood gas, electrolytes, and serum osmolality.
Findings:
- Physiologic principles of acid-base balance, anion gap, and osmolar gap were applied.
- Laboratory results, interpreted through physiological concepts, led to a focused differential diagnosis.
- Subsequent investigation confirmed ethanol toxicity as the cause of AMS.
Implications:
- Demonstrates the practical application of basic science (anatomy, physiology) in clinical decision-making.
- Highlights the utility of fundamental laboratory studies in diagnosing AMS.
- Reinforces the importance of electrolyte and acid-base balance in clinical assessment.
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