Brain Bleeds 😨🧠 Flashcards
What type of hematoma is associated with trauma and has a lens-shaped CT finding?
Epidural hematoma
Commonly caused by arterial bleeding from the middle meningeal artery (MMA)
What is the common cause of subdural hematomas?
Venous bleeding
Typically occurs due to trauma
What is the CT finding characteristic of a subdural hematoma?
Crescent-shaped
The shape indicates the nature of the bleeding between the dura and arachnoid layers
What type of hematoma presents with blood in sulci or cisterns on a CT scan?
Subarachnoid hematoma
Caused by aneurysms or trauma, and has a sudden onset often described as a thunderclap headache
What is the common cause of intracerebral hemorrhages?
Hypertension, amyloid, trauma
These factors contribute to localized hyperdensity on CT scans
What is the typical onset of an epidural hematoma?
Rapid
This rapid onset is due to arterial bleeding
What is the typical onset of a subdural hematoma?
Gradual
This gradual onset reflects the slower venous bleeding
What CT finding is associated with intracerebral hemorrhage?
Localized hyperdensity
The appearance depends on the size of the hemorrhage
Fill in the blank: A subarachnoid hematoma is typically caused by _______.
[Aneurysm/trauma]
True or False: An epidural hematoma is typically venous in origin.
False
Epidural hematomas are typically arterial in origin
What does the ‘E’ in the mnemonic ‘EPIC SUB for SAUCE Inside’ stand for?
Epidural
Refers to an epidural hematoma, which is a type of brain bleed.
What does ‘P’ in ‘EPIC’ signify regarding epidural brain bleeds?
Progression (lucid interval, then rapid decline)
Indicates the typical progression of symptoms in an epidural hematoma.
What does ‘I’ represent in the context of epidural brain bleeds?
Injury (trauma, middle meningeal artery)
Refers to the cause of epidural hematomas, often linked to head trauma.
What shape do epidural hematomas appear as on a CT scan?
Convex (lens-shaped)
Characteristic appearance of epidural hematomas on imaging.
What does ‘S’ in ‘SUB’ refer to in subdural brain bleeds?
Slow (venous bleed = gradual onset)
Indicates the gradual nature of subdural hematomas.
Where do subdural hematomas occur in relation to the dura?
Underneath dura (between dura and arachnoid)
Describes the anatomical location of subdural hematomas.
What shape do subdural hematomas have on a CT scan?
Banana-shaped (crescent)
Typical appearance of subdural hematomas on imaging.
What does ‘S’ in ‘SAUCE’ signify regarding subarachnoid brain bleeds?
Sudden Thunderclap headache
A classic symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What triggers a subarachnoid hemorrhage as indicated by ‘A’ in ‘SAUCE’?
Aneurysm rupture
Most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhages.
Where does blood track in the case of subarachnoid hemorrhage, as indicated by ‘U’ in ‘SAUCE’?
Under sulci
Describes the location of blood in subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What does ‘C’ in ‘SAUCE’ indicate about the CSF in subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Color change in CSF (xanthochromia)
A laboratory finding associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What does ‘E’ in ‘SAUCE’ indicate about the nature of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Emergency!
Indicates the critical nature of a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What does ‘Inside’ refer to in the mnemonic?
Happens inside brain tissue
Refers to intracerebral hemorrhages.
What are the key risks associated with intracerebral hemorrhage as indicated by ‘I’?
Intracranial pressure, Intracerebral hemorrhage, Increased hypertension risk
Highlights the complications and risks associated with intracerebral hemorrhages.
What are the effects associated with a stroke in the anterior cerebral artery?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
This indicates that the lower limbs are more affected than the upper limbs.
What are the effects of a middle cerebral artery stroke?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower, contralateral homonymous hemianopia, aphasia
Hemiparesis and sensory loss affect the upper limbs more than the lower limbs.
What visual impairment is associated with a posterior cerebral artery stroke?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing, visual agnosia
Macular sparing means that the central vision remains intact despite peripheral vision loss.
What symptoms are seen in Weber’s syndrome?
Ipsilateral CN III palsy, contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity
This syndrome is associated with branches of the posterior cerebral artery that supply the midbrain.
What are the effects of a stroke in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery?
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss; contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss; ataxia, nystagmus
This condition is also known as lateral medullary syndrome or Wallenberg syndrome.
What symptoms are associated with a stroke in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery?
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness; symptoms similar to Wallenberg’s
The anterior inferior cerebellar artery affects the cerebellum and pons.
What is the result of a retinal/ophthalmic artery stroke?
Amaurosis fugax
Amaurosis fugax refers to temporary loss of vision.
What syndrome is associated with a basilar artery stroke?
‘Locked-in’ syndrome
Patients are aware but unable to move or communicate due to paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles.
What are the common presentations of lacunar strokes?
Isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss, or hemiparesis with limb ataxia
Lacunar strokes are small strokes that occur in deep brain structures.
What risk factor is strongly associated with lacunar strokes?
Hypertension
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for various types of strokes.
What are common sites for lacunar strokes?
Basal ganglia, thalamus, internal capsule
These areas are frequently affected due to small vessel disease.
