Encephalopathy Case Study (45 min)
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Encephalopathy Case Study (45 min)
Outline
Mr. Farley is a 57 year old male with a history of alcohol abuse who is brought to the Emergency Department (ED) by some work friends with altered mental status (AMS) and a reported seizure. He has significant ascites and jaundice to his sclera and nail beds.
Mr. Farley is admitted to the Medical Stepdown Unit. He is confused, oriented to person only, and agitated. He keeps trying to climb out of bed and is yelling profanities at the nurses. His ammonia level results are 93 mcg/dL. He has also begun to show a fine tremor in his hands and arms. The provider is concerned he may be at risk for alcohol withdrawal in addition to experiencing hepatic encephalopathy. Mr. Farley is placed in bilateral soft wrist restraints for his safety. The provider orders 1 mg Ativan IV push PRN q5min for seizures, plus 2 mg Ativan IV push PRN q2h for signs of alcohol withdrawal. The provider also orders Lactulose 20 mg PO q6h, and Thiamine IV 100 mg BID. Mr. Farley’s level of consciousness continues to diminish and you determine through a bedside swallow study that he is unable to swallow safely at this time. The nurse inserts a nasogastric tube (NG Tube) for administration of Lactulose 20 mg PO q6h. After 48 hours, Mr. Farley’s ammonia level has decreased to 46 mcg/dL. He is now alert and oriented x 3, calm, and cooperative and unrestrained. He states that he can’t remember what happened or why he’s here. The last thing he remembers is going out for a steak dinner after work to celebrate a big sale and having “a few drinks”. The provider agrees that it is safe for Mr. Farley to be discharged home.What diagnostic testing would you anticipate to determine the cause of Mr. Farley’s altered mental status (AMS)?
What do you believe might be going on physiologically?
What nursing assessments should be performed at this time?
What safety precautions should you initiate for Mr. Farley?
What medication orders would you anticipate from the provider?
What nursing action could you take to ensure that Mr. Farley receives his Lactulose?
What nursing considerations exist once a patient begins receiving Lactulose q6h?
What discharge teaching do you anticipate for Mr. Farley?
Fall 2026
Concepts Covered:
- Studying
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Cognitive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Medication Administration
- Depressive Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Health & Stress
- Psychological Emergencies
- Somatoform Disorders
- Communication
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Emotions and Motivation
- Basics of NCLEX
- Pregnancy Risks
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Basics of Sociology
- Statistics
- Cardiac Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Immunological Disorders
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Shock
- Hematologic Disorders
- Vascular Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Respiratory System
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Urinary Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Urinary System
- Upper GI Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Hematologic Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Postpartum Care
- Newborn Complications
- EENT Disorders
- Neurological
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Newborn Care
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Postpartum Complications
- Labor and Delivery
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Neurological Trauma
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Labor Complications
- Documentation and Communication
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient