Blackouts Flashcards

1
Q

What is a blackout?

A

Loss of conscious due to syncopal causes or nonsyncopal causes (hypoperfusion to the brain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

List four syncopal

A

Reflex (vasovagal syncope, carotid sinus hypersensitivity and situational syncope)
Cardiac
Orthostatic
Cerebrovascular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Non-syncopal causes of blackout

A
Intoxication
Head trauma
Metabolic
Psychogenic
Epileptic
Narcolepsy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

List some cardiac

A

Arrythmias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Cause of cerebrovascular syncopal

A

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What drop in BP causes orthostatic hypotension?

A

20mmHg systolic drop

10mmHg systolic drop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Cause of cerebrovascular syncopal blackout

A

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Precipitating factor

A

Postural triggers
Head turning indicates carotid sinus hypersensitivity
Whilst sitting or lying - cardiac arrhthmia
Exericse - primary cardiac pathology e..g aortic stenosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

head trauma

A

Ask if on warfarin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Questions about the episode

A

How long?
Did they bite their tongue?
Twitching and incontinence?
Recovery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Name two causes of short lived blackouts

A

Vasovagal episode

Arrhythmia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

??????? recovery

A

Postictal confusion - takes epileptic patients about half an hour to regain their senses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Name a specific type of cardiac syncope

A

Stokes-adams attack

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Name a specific type of cardiac syncope

A

Stokes-Adams attack

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Explain the Stokes-Adams attack

A

Sudden LOC due to a third degree block or any kind of sinoatrial disease leading to loss of CO
This results in a circulatory arrest, resulting in blood staying in the lungs, so once everything gets going again, the patient looks very rosey

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Generalised seizures

A

Tonic-clonic (rigidity then rhythmicl muscle contractions)
Absence
Simple
?????/

17
Q

What is syncope?

A

Hypoperfusion of the brain which results in loss of consciousness

18
Q

Give four syncopal causes of loss of consciousness

A

Reflex
Cardiac
orthostatic
Cerebrovascullar

19
Q

Give examples of triggers for reflex syncope

A

Standing for along time
Anything frightening
Straining (defecation)

20
Q

Give examples of cardiac causes of syncope

A

Aortic stenosis
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmias

21
Q

What is cerebrovascular syncope?

A

Syncope caused by non cardiac structural causes of reduced cerebral perfusion

22
Q

Give an example of what would cause cerebrovascular syncope

A

Obstruction of blood flow between heart and brain
e.g.

Aortic dissection
Haemorrhage

23
Q

What might cause orthostatic syncope?

A

Drugs (antihypertensives, antisympathetics)
Dehydration
Autonomic instability

24
Q

Another name for reflex syncope?

A

Vasovagal syncope

25
Q

Give examples of NON SYNCOPAL loss of consciousness

A
Intoxication
Head trauma
Metabolic (hypoglycaemia) 
Epileptic seizure
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizure
26
Q

Differentiate between psychogenic non epileptic seizure vs epileptic seizure

A

Psychogenic ones are not neurologic in origin; they are somatic manifestations of psychologic distress

(dropping their hand test - they prevent the hand from falling)

27
Q

How many episodes of seizure do you need to diagnose epilepsy?

A

More than 2 seizures

28
Q

Name two epileptic seizures which cause LOC

A

Complex partial

Generalised

29
Q

What would be the most likely causes of syncope in young people?

A

Vasovagal syncope

Aortic stenosis - congenital bicuspid aortic valve

30
Q

What would be the most likely causes of syncope in middle aged people?

A

Vasovagal syncope

Cardiac arrhythmias

31
Q

What would be the most likely causes of syncope in the elderly?

A

Orthostatic hypotension caused by medications