Aquifer - Neuro (Part 2) Flashcards
DDx - apnea in infants (CNS)
- Seizures (due to CNS bleeding, infection, structural abnormalities, metabolic disorders, electrolyte abnormalities, genetic syndromes, epilepsy)
- Breath-hold spells
- Increased ICP (bleed, trauma, tumor, infection) affecting the respiratory center
DDx - apnea in infants (Cardiac)
- Bradycardia secondary to congenital heart block or long QT syndrome
- Congenital heart disease (particularly ductal-dependent lesions), unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot may have acute episodes of cyanosis associated with a drop in pulmonary blodo flow
DDx - apnea in infants (Pulmonary)
- RSV (most common respiratory cause)
- Pertussis
- Other lower respiratory infections
DDx - apnea in infants (GI)
- GER has been blamed, but a true correlation has not been proven - some experts think that apnea occurs first, leading to hypoxia, relaxation of the LES, and reflux; others believe reflux may cause choking, gagging, color changes, and laryngospasm
- Swallowing abnormalities
- TE fistula (chronic history of coughing or difficulty with feeds)
DDx - apnea in infants (Systemic)
- Systemic sepsis (apnea, pallor, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, hypothermia, decreased feeding, change in tone)
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Ingestions of medications and other toxins (respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures)
- Exposure to botulinum toxin (soil or honey -> hypotonia, constipation, paralysis, respiratory failure)
- Environmental exposure (CO -> mental status changes, hypoxia, respiratory distress)
What is a Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE)?
Event occurring in an infant younger than 1 year when the observer reports a sudden, brief, and now-resolved episode that includes one or more of the following:
- Cyanosis or pallor
- Absent, decreased, or irregular breathing
- Marked change in tone (hyper- or hypotonia)
- Altered level of responsiveness
Only used to define events when no underlying etiology is found and the infant has returned to baseline state of health
When infants deteriorate neurologically, they often stop breathing or seize. What initial steps should be taken?
Rapid response team
Ensure that CPR equipment and trained personnel are available
Obtain IV access
Once stable, head CT
Eventually call the pediatric critical care unit for transfer
Normal neurological findings in a 2-month-old?
Developmental: fix and follow easily with their eyes, exhibit a meaningful smile in response to voices, strong suck, beginning to coo
Lie flexed at the hips with good tone and move all 4 extremities well
Lack good head control when held upright
Cannot roll over because of persistence of the asymmetric tonic neck reflex
When prone, they can raise their heads from side to side
Infant Glasgow Coma Scale scoring?
15 possible points
>13 represents mild or no neurological compromise
<8 means severely impaired and in a coma
Causes of subdural hematomas?
Head trauma
Often found in infants who have experienced violent shaking as in abusive head trauma (may be associated with retinal hemorrhages)
Accidental trauma (MVAs)
Uncommon complication of delivery (especially vacuum extraction or forceps deliveries, resolve within 4-6 weeks of birth)
Do not occur as a result of CPR or seizures, or from short falls
___ accounts for 10-12% of all deaths among children who are victims of child abuse.
10-12
List skeletal survey findings that raise suspicion for abuse.
- Fractures or injuries inconsistent with reported mechanism of injury and/or developmental stage/abilities of child
- Multiple fractures/injuries in different stages of healing
- Toddler’s fracture (femur or tibia in a non-walking child)
- Posterior rib fractures (shaken baby syndrome due to squeezing of the thorax during shaking)
- Skull fracture ni an infant
Prognosis for victims of abusive head trauma?
Many babies with subdural hematomas and retinal hemorrhages have long-term developmental delays, seizures, and/or difficulty with vision
What is cerebral palsy?
Heterogenous group of non-progressive disorders, characterized by motor and postural dysfunction; these conditions, which range in severity, are due to abnormalities of the developing brain resulting from a variety of causes
Overall prevalence of cerebral palsy in western countries?
2/1000
List the 5 types of CP.
- Spastic quadriplegia
- Spastic diplegia
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid, dystonic)
- Spastic hemiplegia
- Ataxic cerebral palsy
General pattern of involvement for the 5 types of CP.
- Spastic quadriplegia - entire body
- Spastic diplegia - legs > arms
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid, dystonic) - variable, often entire body
- Spastic hemiplegia - arm and leg on one side
- Ataxic cerebral palsy - entire body
Class etiology of the 5 types of CP.
- Spastic quadriplegia - global brain abnormalities
- Spastic diplegia - Periventricular white matter abnormality
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid, dystonic) - Basal ganglia, cerebellum and/or thalamus abnormalities
- Spastic hemiplegia - unilateral UMN abnormalities
- Ataxic cerebral palsy - Cerebellar abnormalities
Examples of clinical scenarios for the 5 types of CP.
- Spastic quadriplegia - various
- Spastic diplegia - premature infants
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid, dystonic) - perinatal asphyxia, kernicterus
- Spastic hemiplegia - stroke
- Ataxic cerebral palsy - cerebellar hypoplasia, pontocerebellar hypoplasia
Risks for cerebral palsy?
- Prematurity (78%)
- Intrauterine growth retardation (34%)
- Chorioamnionitis (28%)
- Perinatal asphyxia (10%)
Assessment of the child with CP?
- H&P - determine that the condition is static rather than progressive or degenerative, classify type of CP
- Screening for developmental delays, ophthalmologic abnormalities, hearing impairment, speech and language disorders, and disorders of oral-motor function (problems commonly associated with CP)
- EEG - recommended when there are features suggestive of epilepsy
- Neuroimaging (MRI) - establish an etiology, prognostics
- Metabolic and genetic testing - if history/neuroimaging findings do not determine a specific structural abnormality, or if there are additional/atypical features in the H&P
- Developmental testing
3 core symptoms of ADHD?
Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity