A 33-Year-Old Woman With Altered Mental Status and Elevated Ammonia Level

Chest. 2018 Dec;154(6):e169-e171. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2018.06.029.

Abstract

A 33-year-old woman was brought to the ED with altered mental status. She was combative on presentation but spontaneously progressed into a comatose state and was intubated for airway protection. Naloxone failed to improve her mental status. When family was reached, they reported a history of seizures that were controlled on treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ammonia / blood*
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / pharmacokinetics
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / drug therapy
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / etiology
  • Drug Overdose* / blood
  • Drug Overdose* / diagnosis
  • Drug Overdose* / physiopathology
  • Drug Overdose* / therapy
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders* / blood
  • Mental Disorders* / chemically induced
  • Mental Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders* / therapy
  • Renal Dialysis / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Seizures / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Valproic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Valproic Acid / adverse effects*
  • Valproic Acid / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Valproic Acid
  • Ammonia