Case of the Month #16 - cerebral oedema

Published 02/02/2022

What initial investigations would you perform?

  • Paracetamol level
  • Ammonia
  • Hepatitis screen (Hep A, B, C, E, HSV, EBV, CMV)
  • HIV status
  • Group and save

While in the Emergency Department the patient becomes acutely agitated. Blood results reveal a paracetamol level of 54, ammonia of 170 μmol/L.