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Encephalopathy

Encephalopathy is defined as global cerebral dysfunction in the absence of structural brain disease. This diagnosis may be caused by infection, metabolic

disorders, mitochondrial disorders, brain tumor, brain pressure, chronic progressive trauma, poor nutrition, lack of oxygen to brain or prolonged exposure

to toxic elements. Types of Encephalopathy include:

Septic Encephalopathy Metabolic Encephalopathy

Toxic Encephalopathy Hypertensive Encephalopathy

Hepatic Encephalopathy Anoxic Encephalopathy

Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy Traumatic Encephalopathy

When caring for a patient with altered mentation, consider if the patient’s altered

mental status is due to one of the above conditions/diagnoses.

Encephalopathy is a highly audited diagnosis due to over use and over coding. The diagnosis should warrant treatment of the underlying condition. Beware if the patient has dementia or mental status changes due to medication administration:

simple confusion, lethargy or somnolence is not encephalopathy.

This documentation will support your patient being as sick on paper as they are in the bed.

Reference: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-toxic-metabolic-encephalopathy-in-adults Chen, R, Young, GB. Metabolic Encephalopathies. In: Bolton, CF, Young, GB, (Eds), Baillere's Clinical Neurology, Balliere Tindall,

London 1996. p.577.