Encephalopathy (cont.)
What is the treatment for encephalopathy?
Treatment of encephalopathy varies with the primary cause of the symptoms;
consequently, not all cases of encephalopathy are treated the same. The best
treatments are designed by the treating physician once the patient's primary
diagnosis is made. Treatments are highly variable because the causes are so
different.
Examples can show how different "encephalopathy treatment" may change
according to the cause:
- Anoxia short-term (usually less than two minutes):
oxygen therapy
- Anoxia long- term: rehabilitation
- Alcohol toxicity short- term: IV fluids or no therapy
- Alcohol abuse over the long-term (cirrhosis or chronic liver failure): oral
lactulose, low-protein diet, antibiotics
- Uremic encephalopathy (due to kidney failure): correct the underlying
physiologic cause,
dialysis,
kidney transplant
- Diabetic encephalopathy: glucose to treat
hypoglycemia, removal of blood glucose to treat
hyperglycemia
- Hypo- or hypertensive encephalopathy: raise (for
hypotensive) or reduce (for
hypertensive) blood pressure
The key to treatment of any encephalopathy is to understand the basic cause
and thus design a treatment scheme to reduce or eliminate the cause(s). There is
one type of encephalopathy that is difficult or impossible to treat; it is
static encephalopathy (an altered mental state or brain damage that is
permanent). The best that can be done with static encephalopathy is, if
possible, to prevent further damage and implement rehabilitation to allow the
individual to perform at their highest possible functional level.
Next: What are the complications of encephalopathy? »
- Liver Blood Tests - Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, Tylenol liver damage, and more. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels)
- Low Blood Pressure - Learn about low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure is blood pressure below normal and symptoms may include: lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting upon standing (orthostatic hypotension). There are many causes of low blood pressure, and treatment is dependant upon the cause.
- Creatinine Blood Test - Learn more about the creatinine blood test, a test that measures kidney function. Abnormal creatinine levels in the blood may indicate kidney disease.
Latest Medical News
Neurology RSS