Table of Contents

Section 1: Theory and practice:

Consciousness: concepts, neurobiology, terminology of impairments, theoretical models and philosophical background. Consciousness: its neurological relevance.

Section 2: Syndromes of impaired consciousness:

Delirium in the critically ill patient. Coma and stupor. Herniation. The vegetative and minimally conscious states.

Section 3: Specific entities:

Metabolic encephalopathies. Nutritional disorders. Coma induced by intoxication. Ischemic stroke and anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Infectious etiologies of altered consciousness. Traumatic brain injury. Seizures and impairment of consciousness. Syncope. Altered consciousness associated with brain neoplasms. Abnormal conscious state and coma in transplant recipients. Pregnancy and coma. Psychogenic unresponsiveness and nonepileptic seizures. Coma in childhood.

Section 4: Management issues:

Management of the comatose patient. Ethical issues in the management of patients with impaired consciousness.

Promotional Information

This volume is part of the Handbook of Clinical Neurology series, the world's most comprehensive source of information in neurology. Now in its third generation, the series has an unparalleled reputation for providing the latest foundational research, diagnosis, and treatment protocols essential for both basic neuroscience research and clinical neurology.

About the Author

Eelco F.M. Wijdicks MD is Professor of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Chair of the Division of Critical Care Neurology and attending in the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit at Saint Marys Hospital (Mayo Clinic Rochester).He is the founding editor of the journal Neurocritical care, the official journal of the Neurocritical Care Society. He has single authored 12 books on Neurocritical Care and edited or co-authored 7 additional books all currently in print. He has over 750 research papers, topic reviews and editorials to his credit.

Reviews

The present volume 90 of the 3rd series of the widely appreciated Handbook of Clinical Neurology is dedicated to disorders of consciousness, edited by two experienced neurologists and written by a panel of international experts.
The book includes 21 chapters, divided into four major sections; Theory and practice, Syndromes of impaired consciousness, Specific entities and Management issues. Most articles are concise and well-written, with informative subheadings, tables and figures, some of them with short summaries or conclusions. The present volume provides up-to-date information on the concepts, neurobiology, causes, clinical signs and symptoms, management options, outcome and ethical issues of consciousness and related disorders.

The European Journal of Neurology, 2008