cancer/abscess/concussion/CN Flashcards
space occupying lesion symptoms
vomiting, fever, altered mental status, and focal neurologic signs
avoid LP in who
focal neurologic signs; brain stem herniation may be precipated by LP; rule out space occupying lesion
imaging dx for abscess
MRI or CT with contrast medium
bacterial catagory of brain abscess
polymicrobial; gm+ and gm-
brain abscess medication tx
IV pen G or ceftriaxone plus flagyl - add vanco if staph aureus is suspected
Half of brain cancers are what
gliomas
10% of spinal tumors are what the rest are what
10 % are intramedullary rest are ependymona
common sources of intracranial metastasis
carcinoma of lung, breast, kidney, GI tract
personality changes, intellectual decline, emotional lability, seizures, HA, N/V, malaise
increased intracranial pressure
main brain tumor in adults and kids
adults: gliobastoma kids: astrocytomas
% of brain tumors - primary - metastatic
primary is 30% mets is 70%
progressive intellectual decline
slowing of mental activity
personality changes contralateral grasp reflexes
poss expressive aphasia
frontal lobe
lead to seizures, depersonalization olfactory or gustatory(taste) hallucinations licking or smacking of lips emotional and behavioral changes visual field defects auditory illusions
temporal lobe
cause contralateral disturbances of sensation
may cause sensory seizures
a cortical sensory loss or inattention
parietal lobe
crossed homonymous hemianopia or partial field defect visual agnosia for objects and colors or unformed visual hallucinations
occipital lobe
CN palsies, ataxia, incoordination, nystagmus, pyramidal and sensory deficits in limbs on one or both sides
brain stem and cerebellar cancer
ataxia
the loss of full control of bodily movements
loss of consciousness for how long implies a worse prognosis
2 minutes
s/s of acute epidural hemorrhage
HA, confusion, somnolence, seizures, focal deficits occurring several hours after injury
signs that occur with a brief loss of consciousness
bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory arrest
study of choice for brain injury
head CT
crescent shaped hemorrhage biconcave shaped hemorrhage
crescent: subdural biconcave: epidural
tx of increased intracranial pressure
ventricular drainage elevation of head of bed induce hyperventilation IV mannitol infusion sedation
anticonvulsant therapy for brain injury?
1 week for severe brain injuries