Sunday January 7, 2007


Q; Metabolic encephalopathy causes .... (choose one)

A) Pupillary constriction (miosis)
OR
B) Pupillary dilatation (mydriasis)



Answers: Pupillary constriction (miosis)

If your clinical diagnosis is metabolic encephalopathy but pupils appears dilated, you may need to revisit your diagnosis or may need to consider further radiological workup.

In ICU major causes of pupillary constriction are opiates, metabolic encephalopathy, cholinergic toxicity, or pontine lesions.