The emergency department plays a critical role in the evaluation and management of older patients with<unk><unk><unk> .  The emergency department is often the initial point of entry for geriatric hospital admissions, and it is tasked with rapidly identifying those who are critically ill, while efficiently diagnosing the underlying etiology, and promptly initiating life saving therapies.  The concepts pertinent to delirium can be generalized to stupor and coma, because there is significant overlap.  Although<unk><unk><unk>  is common in presentation, its workup is challenging because the potential causes are vast, and they vary from nonserious to life-threatening. Therefore, a thoughtful, comprehensive approach is essential, which involves clarifying the history and onset of symptoms with the patients and/or caregivers, and localizing specific signs or symptoms to narrow the differential.
Altered mental status medical therapy
Delirium physical examination
Delirium medical therapy
Sepsis medical therapy
Starvation medical therapy
Head injury medical therapy
Acute liver failure medical therapy
Intracerebral hemorrhage management