The Open Critical Care Medicine Journal

2011, 4 : 2-7
Published online 2011 July 07. DOI: 10.2174/1874828701104010002
Publisher ID: TOCCMJ-4-2

Neurological Sequelae of Sepsis: I) Septic Encephalopathy

Thomas M. Ringer , Hubertus Axer , Bernd F.M. Romeike , Jan Zinke , Frank Brunkhorst , Otto W. Witte and Albrecht Günther
Hans Berger Clinic for Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Erlanger Allee 101, D-07747 Jena, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Septic encephalopathy (SE) or sepsis-associated delirium is the most common encephalopathy in ICU patients. It is defined by brain dysfunction due to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and extracranial infection. Clinically, acute impairment in level of consciousness and confusion are primarily defining symptoms. Precise clinical evaluation of brain function is crucial, although the necessary diagnostic tools are limited and require further verification in clinical studies. Therefore, SE is often underestimated and not frequently diagnosed. This review gives an overview of clinical features, epidemiological data, pathophysiological processes, imaging and neuropathological findings as well as diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in SE patients to characterize this severe neurological complication of sepsis.

Keywords:

Encephalopathy, delirium, sepsis, SIRS.