OPEN ACCESSJuly 2, 2013Online Case Study: The Clinical and Pathological Differential Diagnosis of Encephalopathy (“The Mysterious Case of ‘John Doe’”) Huaibin Mabel Ko, MD, Daniel Perl, Stephen Krieger, Reena Karani, Robert Fallar, Merril Schindler, Margret Magid, MD Huaibin Mabel Ko, MD Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Google Scholar More articles by this author , Daniel Perl Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Stephen Krieger Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Reena Karani Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Robert Fallar Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Merril Schindler Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Margret Magid, MD Mount Sinai School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.9461 SectionsAbout ToolsDownload Citations ShareFacebookTwitterEmail AbstractAbstract Introduction: This online clinical case was designed to complement and reinforce material covered in the module on Nutritional/Metabolic disturbances in a second-year brain and behavior course. The goal of this exercise was to have the student apply important concepts previously presented in class to a realistic patient. It could also be utilized during the clinical years for a review of the basic science underlying encephalopathy. Methods: The module was created to be an enjoyable, interactive, multimedia experience that guides the student through clinical decision making in a patient presenting with confusion. A brief discussion of this disorder concludes the exercise. Case efficacy was evaluated through a posttest and a student survey. Results: The case was available to half of the class of 143 students (Group 1) for a period of 6 days following completion of the Nutritional/Metabolic Disturbances module. The remaining 72 students (Group 2) did not initially have access to the case. After the case was closed, an elective seven multiple-choice question online quiz was opened to all 143 students. The average total score (out of max of 7) for Group 1 was 5.58, while the score of Group 2 was 4.57 (p = .0004). For the survey, feedback was incorporated into an anonymous postcourse evaluation. Seven questions about the exercise were evaluated on a Likert scale from 1–5. In addition, free-text comments were solicited. Fifty-three students completed the survey. The quiz and survey results indicate that the case is both well-received and effective for short-term learning. Discussion: The significance of the work is the integration of basic science/pathology and clinical medicine in the format of an engaging case review of encephalopathy. The case is appropriate both for preclinical students learning about clinical workup, as well as for students in the clerkship and post-clerkship years reviewing the underpinnings of basic science in clinical medicine. Educational Objectives By the end of the module, learners will be able to: Define the concept of encephalopathy and discuss important pathophysiological disorders that should be considered in the differential diagnosis.Describe the clinical work-up of encephalopathy, including important differential points in the physical examination, laboratory findings, radiological imaging, and pathology.Describe the emergent treatment of a patient presenting with encephalopathy.Discuss various aspects of Wernicke encephalopathy, including its pathogenesis, the classic triad of clinical symptoms, pathological findings, and treatment.Describe the pathogenesis and pathological findings of fatty liver (steatosis). Sign up for the latest publications from MedEdPORTAL Add your email below FILES INCLUDEDReferencesRelatedDetails FILES INCLUDED Included in this publication: Instructors Guide MSM.doc John Doe Module folder To view all publication components, extract (i.e., unzip) them from the downloaded .zip file. Download editor’s noteThis publication may contain technology or a display format that is no longer in use. Copyright & Permissions© 2013 Ko et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.KeywordsCNSMetabolicNutritionalHepatic ArteryOnlineCaseWernickeAlcoholEncephalopathyMetabolic Brain Disease Disclosures None to report. Funding/Support None to report. Loading ...