Acute Neuropathologies Flashcards
Brain Tumors: What is it ?
Space-occupying lesions – cause ↑ ICP.
Can be life-threatening.
Both benign & malignant tumors
Unless accessible and removable
The largest category of primary malignant tumors.
Gliomas
Brain tumors classified based on
Cell derivation & location of tumor
Brain Tumors
Tumors can also arise from
meninges or pituitary
Primary malignant tumors rarely
metastasize outside CNS
Secondary brain tumors
Metastasized from breast or lung
Effects are similar to primary tumors
Brain Tumors
Primary malignant tumors (PID)
- Poorly defined margins
- Invasive, have irregular projections into adjacent tissue (T1)
- Inflammation develops around the tumor (T2)
Difficult to totally remove
Primary Malignant tumors
Brain Tumors Supratentorial mostly in
Adults; more frequently in cerebral hemispheres
Brain tumors: Infratentorial: mostly in
Children; more frequently in brainstem / cerebellum
Brain Tumors Signs and symptoms : determines focal signs
Usually no systemic signs of malignancy
Will cause death before they cause general effects
Site of tumor
Often first sign of brain tumors
Seizures
Brain tumors Signs and symptoms HVILPB
HA (↑ ICP); vomiting lethargy Irritability Personality and Behavioral changes; possible unilateral facial paralysis or visual problems
What are the treatment of Brain tumors?
Treatment – may cause damage to normal CNS tissue
Surgery if accessible
Chemotherapy and radiation (many are radio resistant)
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck
“Paragangliomas” –Form where?
form within neuroendocrine tissue lying along carotid artery, C.N. IX+ and middle ear
Paragangliomas” – What determines signs/symptoms:
Location of tumor
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck
“Paragangliomas” Middle ear tumor (UCA)
Unilateral pulsatile tinnitus
Conductive hearing loss
Aural fullness
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck : “Paragangliomas”
C.N. tumor symptoms
Facial paralysis
Dysphonia/Dysarthria
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck can
Secrete hormones
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck can Norepi –
Serotonin – mimics carcinoid syndrome
mimics Pheochromocytoma
Glomus Tumors of Head and Neck -> CCK –
causes post-op. ileus
Glomus Tumors of Head & Neck Serotonin –
mimics carcinoid syndrome Bronchoconstriction HA Flushing HTN
Possible Anesthesia Complications Brain tumors Pre-op (if C.N. (VAL)
9, 10, 12 affected):
Airway obstruction
Vocal cord paralysis
Laryngeal distortion
Possible Anesthesia Complications Brain tumors Intra-op
(if norepi or histamine released during surgery)
Profound Hyper or Hypotension
Possible Anesthesia Complications Post-op
(if C.N. or vessel damage)
↑ risk aspiration with impaired gastric emptying
Venous air embolism
Massive blood loss
Vascular disorders Ischemia (TIA) or Infarct (CVA) 2o to:
Occlusion
Aneurysm with resultant ↑ICP
TIA and CVA Extent of damage & manifestations depend on
artery involved
TIA and CVA Ischemia can be
Focal or Global
Temporary ischemia caused by:
PASVL
Partial occlusion of an artery Atherosclerosis Small embolus Vascular spasm Local loss of autoregulation
May occur singly or in series
TIA
Difficult to diagnose
TIA
TIA manifest as (weakness)
Intermittent short episodes of impaired function ex. muscle weakness in arm or leg
TIA signs TFV
Visual disturbances
Facial numbness / paresthesias
Transient aphasia, confusion or dizziness
CVA Infarction caused by:
Occlusion or Aneurysm of cerebral blood vessel
Irreversible damage
5 Minutes of ischemia
Central area of necrosis develops; all function lost
Surrounding inflammation later heals.
Test used to determine whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic.
Non-contrast CT
CT reliably detects
intracranial bleeding, but is insensitive to ischemic changes during first few hours of a stroke.
% of CVA hemorrhagic
Approx. 20% of CVAs are hemorrhagic.
Hemorrhagic strokes are
4x more likely to result in death.
Test to determine cause
MRA useful in determining cause
Risk factors for CVA
4S DEHAIOH
Systemic HTN Systemic lupus Smoking Sedentary lifestyle Diabetes Erythematosus Hyperlipidemia Alcohol abuse, Increasing age Obstructive sleep apnea Heart disease
This combination can lead to stroke->
Combination of oral contraceptives & cigarette
smoking
CVA and congenital
Congenital malformation of blood vessels
Signs and symptoms of CVA
Depend on
location & size of artery involved (Collateral circulation may diminish size of affected area)
IN CVA, Weakness signs and symptoms
Lack of voluntary movement or sensation on opposite side of body
Initially flaccid paralysis
Spastic paralysis develops weeks later
NIH Stroke Scale
Developed by the National Institutes of Health
Designed to assist with rapid diagnosis in an emergency situation
CVA Treatments:
Rehabilitation
Surgery
Medical - Thrombolytics for clot
Glucocorticoids
Supportive treatment
IV TPA – must be initiated within
3 hours from the onset of symptoms
CVA rehab
Occupational and physical therapy; speech-language
pathologists
Treat underlying problem to prevent recurrence
CVA
What is an aneurysm?is
Localized weakness in wall of an artery
Cerebral aneurysms frequently
multiple.
Cerebral aneurysm Usually in
subarachnoid space, or at points of bifurcation on circle of Willis “Berry” aneurysms
Aneurysm aggravated by
Often aggravated by HTN
Aneurysm is initially ____and _______
Slow bleed cause_______
Initially small and asymptomatic
Slow bleed causes vascular headache
Aneurysm rupture
Rupture = fatal ↑ICP and death
Aneurysms Signs and symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhage (LSND)
Loss of vision or visual disturbances
Sudden severe HA & photophobia
Nuchal rigidity due to meningeal irritation
Decreased level of consciousness
ECG changes often seen following subarachnoid
hemorrhage:
ST-segment depression, and inverted T waves.
Aneurysm Treatment
Treatment
Surgical treatment before rupture
Antihypertensives
Moyamoya Japanese word – means
“puff of smoke” – refers to angiographic findings.
Moyamoya is progressie
TIAs/ischemia seen in children; Hemorrhage in adults
Progressive stenosis of intracranial vessels with 2o
development of anastomotic capillaries.
Moyamoya genetic
Familial tendency
Intracranial aneurysms occur with
increased frequency
Medical Treatment of Moyamoya
Vasodilators
Anticoagulants
Surgical Treatment of Mayamoya
Anastomosis STA to MCA
Prognosis Poor
Moyamoya – (Anesthesia Considerations)
FIA
Intra-arterial catheterization for rapid BP assessment should be placed prior to induction.
Avoid hyperventilation to reduce risk of cerebral
vascoconstriction.
Facilitate rapid emergence from anesthesia for neurologic
function assessment.
BP control of Moyamoya
Dopamine and ephedrine control hypotension with less
adverse effects on cerebral vasculature than vasoconstrictor drugs
Infections - meningitis
Different age groups are susceptible to different causative
organisms.
May be 2o to other infections
Children and young adults Meningitis
Neisseria Meningitis or meningococci
Frequently carried in nasopharynx of asymptomatic carriers
Spread by respiratory droplets
Neonates Meningitis
Escherichia coli most common causative organism
Usually in conjunction with a neural tube defect, premature rupture of the amniotic membranes, difficult delivery
Young children Meningitis
Most often due to
More often in the
H. influenzae
autumn or winter
Older adults and Meningitis
Streptococcus pneumoniae – major caus
Signs and symptoms of Meningitis
SSBNP
Sudden onset Severe HA Nuchal rigidity Back pain Photophobia
Sign with Meningitis
Kernig sign
Brudzinski sign
Symptoms of Meningitis
Vomiting
Irritability
Lethargy, fever, and chills with leukocytosis
Progressing to stupor or seizures
Meningitis Diagnostic tests
Lumbar puncture to examine CSF
Identify causative organism
Treatment of Meningitis
AGRV
Aggressive antimicrobial therapy
Glucocorticoids
Reduction of cerebral inflammation & edema
Vaccines available for some types of meningitis
Infections - Brain Abscess
LUF
Localized infection
Usually necrosis of brain tissue and a surrounding area of
edema
Frequently in frontal or temporal lobes
Brain Abscess spread?
May spread from organisms in ear, throat, lung, sinuses
May result from septic emboli, acute bacterial
endocarditis, site of injury or surgery
Treatment of brain abscess
Surgical drainage and antimicrobial therapy
Infections – Viral Encephalitis
Infection of the parenchymal or connective tx. of Brain/SC Inflammation & Necrosis develop
Results in some permanent damage
Viral Encephalitis infection Early signs
Severe HA, stiff neck, lethargy, fever, vomiting, seizures
Infection may include
meninges
Western equine encephalitis
Arboviral infection spread by mosquitoes
More frequent in summer
Common in children
St. Louis encephalitis
Affects older persons more seriously than young
West Nile fever
Caused by a flavivirus
Spread by mosquitoes
Encephalitis Herpes simplex encephalitis
Occurs occasionally
Spread from herpes simplex I
Extensive necrosis and hemorrhage in the brain
Tetanus
Caused by _________
Caused by Clostridium tetani
Botulism caused by
Caused by Clostridium botulinum
WIth botulism exotoxin
blocks acetylcholine @NMJ causing FLACCID Paralysis, respiratory failure
With Tetanus exotoxin
Exotoxin blocks inhibitory glycine & GABA @NMJ
Spastic paralysis
Respiratory failure
Rabies
Viral, transmitted by bite of a rabid animal, or
transplant of contaminated tissues
Virus travels along peripheral nerves to CNS causing
HA, fever, nervous hyperirritability, sensitivity to
touch, seizures
Virus also travels to salivary glands.
Difficulty swallowing
Fear of fluids
Respiratory failure – death
Neuroborreliosis ( from Lyme disease)
Caused by
Borrelia burgdoferi
Transmitted by ticks
Neuroborreliosis ( from Lyme disease)
Neuroborreliosis Typical
“bull’s eye” lesion – sore throat, dry cough, fever, headache, cardiac arrhythmias, neurologic abnormalities
Lyme disease need this therapy
Antimicrobial therapy
Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis)
Endemic in_______
Polio virus
Immunization available
Polio is Endemic in
West and Central Africa
Highly contagious
Poliomyelitis
Transmission of polio
Direct contact or oral droplet
What does polio do?
Attacks motor neurons of the spinal cord and medulla
Polio signs and symptoms
Fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, pain, flaccid paralysis
Herpes zoster (shingles) Caused by
varicella-zoster virus
Herpes zoster develop when ?
Years after varicella (chickenpox)
Herpes zoster Usual affect on
cranial nerve or one dermatome
HERPES Pain, paresthesia, vesicular rash
If antiviral drugs started within 48 hours of onset, pain is
significantly reduced.
Lesions and pain persist for several weeks.
Herpes Zoster
Post-herpetic pain may persist for months to years in some cases.
Vaccine available for those 60 years or older
Herpes Zoster
Linked to viral infection in children treated with
Aspirin
Reye syndrome
Cause
not fully determined
Reye syndrome is linked to
Linked to viral infection in children treated with aspirin
Reye Syndrome and fluid
Hepatomegaly with acute failure
Cerebral edema
No immediate cure
Reye syndrome
Infection-Related Syndromes - Guillain-Barre
Post-infection polyneuritis
GBS is inflammatory
Inflammatory condition of PNS
GBS Precise cause is
unknown, but usually follows viral infection
Local inflammation with ______
accumulated lymphocytes, demyelination, axon destruction
GBS Changes cause
impaired nerve conduction.
Guillain-Barre Muscle weakness PATTERN
Ascending paralysis involves diaphragm
and respiratory muscles
GBS respiratory
C – Respiratory failure
Guillain-Barre – Anesthesia Considerations functions altered
ANS and lower motor neuron
Guillain-Barre – Anesthesia Considerations functions altered- CV
Compensatory cardiovascular responses absent,
with unpredictable changes in systemic BP.
– Intra-arterial catheter to monitor changes.
GBS and NMB
Avoid succinylcholine - ↑risk of excessive K+ release
from denervated muscle.
–Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants w/ minimal
circulatory effects should be used:
ex. Cisatracurium or vecuronium
Most common transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
CJD – Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
CJD is a Formation of
clustered vacuoles that become confluent in brain
Rapidly progressive dementia with ataxia and myoclonus
CJD
Prions – Anesthesia Precautions
______only body fluid shown to result in transmission
CSF
LP with PRIONS
Double glove
Protective gown
Protective glasses
Label specimen “Infectious
Head injury main issue
Can be severe and life-threatening
Destruction of brain tissue
Massive swelling
Types of head Injuries:Concussion
Result of
Recovery
– (minimal brain trauma)mild blow to head or whiplash-type injury
–usually within 24 hours without permanent
damage
Types of head Injuries:Contusion
–Bruised brain tissue, rupture of small blood vessels,
and edema
–Blunt blow to the head – possible residual damage
Types of Head InjuriesClosed head injury
No Skull fx
Brain tissue injured, blood vessels may be ruptured
Basilar fractures -occurs
at the base of skull
What happens with a basilar fracture?
When might it occur?
Leakage of CSF through ears or nose is possible
May occur when forehead hits windshield
Contrecoup injury
Area of the brain contralateral to the site of direct damage is injured. As brain bounces off the skull
Moya Moya
Puff smoked
May be secondary to acceleration or deceleration injuries
Contrecoup injury
Primary brain injuries is ____
what rupture?
Direct injury of brain tissue
Rupture or compression of cerebral blood vessels
Secondary injuries
Result from additional effects of
cerebral edema, hemorrhage, hematoma, vasospasm, infection, ischemia
**Epidural hematoma
Results from ruptured WHICH ARTERY ?
meningeal artery
**Signs with EPIDURAL HEMATOMA: when does it show?
Signs usually arise within few hours of injury
SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of EPIDURAL (BHM)
Mydriasis
Hemiparesis
Bradycardia
Subdural hematoma: Results from
Hematoma may be acute or subacute
Results from torn bridging veins between dura and arachnoid
-Acute or Subacute
Subdural Signs arise
gradually over several days
Signs and symptoms of Subdural HHL
HA/Drowsiness
Hemiparesis/Hemianopsia
Language disturbances
Head Injuries - Anesthesia
CPP? Avoid 2 things
Optimize CPP – maintain above 70mmHg if possible
Minimize cerebral ischemia
Avoid drugs/techniques that could increase ICP
Avoid hyperventilation to reduce risk of cerebral ischemia
Fracture, dislocation of vertebrae causes:
Compression or tear of spinal cord
May result from hyperextension or hyperflexion of neck
Cervical spine injuries
injury to cord when force is applied to top of skull or to feet
Compression
Complete transection of cord
Flaccid paralysis & loss of sensation at and below the level of injury
Common with Complete transection of cord
Loss of temp. regulation and decreased systemic BP common
Partial transection of cord
May allow recovery of some function
Spinal Cord Injury: Spinal shock
Hypotension with absent ANS reflexes (@T & L-spine level)
Recovery dependent on amount of bleeding and surgical intervention
Spinal shock lasts
Typically lasts 1 to 3 weeks in survivors
Spinal SHOCK physiologic effects
Alveolar hypoventilation and ↓ability to clear bronchial
secretions (@C & Upper T-spine level)
↑risk of aspiration, pneumonia and PE
Tetany what kind of paralysis
Spastic
Botulism what kind of paralysis
Flaccid
SCI Inflammation gradually subsides
Damaged tissue removed by__________ what forms?
phagocytes
Scar tissue forms
SCI Reflex activity resumes
below level of injury.
No communication with higher levels or brain
SCI what is lost?
Control of reflexes below the level of damage is lost.
**Spinal Cord Injury - Anesthesia
During airway mgmt, minimize
neck movements.
**SCI and compensatory sympathetic NS
Absence of compensatory sympathetic NS can cause
profound hypotension with changes in body position,
blood loss or pos. airway pressure.
SCI, If muscle relaxants necessary,
pancuronium or other non-depolarizing drugs can be used
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Most common nerve entrapment
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Compression of Median Nerve btwn. Ligament & bones
Treatment of Carpal tunnel syndrome
Immobilization and/or cortisone injection
Surgical decompression
Three times more frequent in women
Carpel tunnel
From repetitive movements
Carpal tynosynovitis
Symptoms with Carpel tunnel
Pain & paresthesias over thumb, index and middle fingers
Cubital Tunnel Entrapment Syndrome
Compression of Ulnar N. passing through condylar groove
into cubital tunnel
Surgical treatment by
decompression carries risk of injuring nerves blood supply which could worsen the condition