Chapter 15: Neurologic Emergencies

Question 1

Stroke is a common cause of brain disorder that:

Answer 1

is potentially treatable

Question 2

When assessing a scene, do not be distracted by the seriousness of the situation or by frightened family members who want you to rush. Look first for:

Answer 2

threats to your safety

Question 3

The time of onset during a suspected stroke is critical because it helps determine:

Answer 3

whether the patient is a candidate for treatment with clot dissolving drugs

Question 4

Petit mal seizures are also called:

Answer 4

absence seizures

Question 5

Often, a patient may have experienced a warning prior to the seizure event. The warning is referred to as a(n):

Answer 5

aura

Question 6

In some situations, the postical state may be characterized by hemiparesis or:

Answer 6

weakness on one side of the body, resembling a stroke.

Question 7

In geriatric patients, you should consider a headache as:

Answer 7

potentially serious

Question 8

A patient who almost always has an altered or decreased level of consciousness usually is suffering from:

Answer 8

hypoglycemia

Question 9

Treat stroke and altered mental status (AMS) in children:

Answer 9

the same way you do for adults

Question 10

You should always do at least three neurologic tests on patients you suspect of having a stroke. Which of the following is not correct?

a. Test their speech.
b. Test facial movement.
c. Test arm movement.
d. Check blood sugar if a glucose meter is available.

Answer 10

d. Check blood sugar if a glucose meter is available.

Question 11

Headaches can be caused by which of the following conditions?

a. stroke
b. tumors
c. sinusitis
d. all of the above

Answer 11

d. all of the above

Question 12

More than 80% of strokes are ________ strokes.

Answer 12

ischemic

Question 13

In the mnemonic TIPS AEIOU, the first “I” stands for:

Answer 13

infection

Question 14

more ____ than ____ have strokes

Answer 14

more men than women have strokes

Question 15

but strokes are more fatal in

Answer 15

women

Question 16

___ and _____ may also occur when there is a disorder in the brain

Answer 16

seizures and AMS

Question 17

_____ can result from:

• head injury
• brain tumor
• metabolic problem
• genetic predisposition

Answer 17

seizures

Question 18

the ___ is the body’s computer

Answer 18

brain

Question 19

list the three major parts of the brain

Answer 19

cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem

Question 20

the cerebrum is divided into ____ which control _____

Answer 20

left and right hemispheres which control activities on opposite sides of the body

Question 21

what do the following parts of the cerebrum control

• back
• left
• middle
• front

Answer 21

• back: sight
• left: speech
• middle: movement and touch
• front: thought and emotion

Question 22

the cerebellum controls

Answer 22

muscle and body coordination

Question 23

the brainstem controls

Answer 23

basic functions like breathing, BP, swallowing, pupil constriction

Question 24

messages sent from the brain travel through the

Answer 24

nerves

Question 25

the brain is very sensitive to changes in ___, ____, and ___

Answer 25

temperature, O2, and glucose

Question 26

disorders caused by the heart and lungs will...

Answer 26

affect the entire brain

Question 27

problem mainly in the brain will...

Answer 27

only affect that part of the brain

Question 28

____ is one of the most common complaints you will hear from your patients in terms of pain

Answer 28

headache

Question 29

a ____/____ headache requires assessment and transport

Answer 29

sudden/severe

Question 30

_____, _____, _____ are the most common types of headaches and are not medical emergencies

Answer 30

sinus, tension, migraine

Question 31

migraine headaches are thought to be caused by

Answer 31

changes in the BV in the base of the brain

Question 32

the ____ is the event and the ____ is the effect

Answer 32

``` CVA = event stroke = effect ```

Question 33

a CVA or stroke is an ____ of the ____ to the ____ that results in loss of _____

Answer 33

a CVA or stroke is an interruption of the flow of blood to the brain that results in loss of brain function

Question 34

time is

Answer 34

brain

Question 35

when the brain lacks oxygen cells ____ and _____

Answer 35

stop working and begin to die

Question 36

what are the two main types of stroke

Answer 36

ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

Question 37

____ is a direct blockage of blood flow through the cerebral arteries

Answer 37

ischemic stroke

Question 38

ischemic strokes account for ___% of strokes

Answer 38

80%

Question 39

the blockage of an ischemic stroke is from ___ or ____

Answer 39

embolism or thrombosis

Question 40

____ is when a BV ruptures, causing INC pressure in the brain and subsequent brain damage

Answer 40

hemorrhagic stroke

Question 41

hemorrhagic strokes make up ___ % of strokes

Answer 41

10-20

Question 42

people at a high risk for hemorrhagic stroke have

Answer 42

very high BP

Question 43

cerebral hemorrhages are often

Answer 43

fatal

Question 44

a hemorrhagic stroke in healthy young people is called a

Answer 44

berry anuerysm

Question 45

with hemorrhagic shock patients may experience

Answer 45

a sudden severe headache

Question 46

____ when stroke symptoms go away on their own within less than 24 hours

Answer 46

TIA

Question 47

TIA's are known as

Answer 47

mini strokes

Question 48

TIA's may be

Answer 48

a warning sign of a larger stroke to come

Question 49

_____ is lack of muscle coordination (sign of stroke)

Answer 49

ataxia

Question 50

____ is speech disorders (sign of stroke)

Answer 50

dysphasia

Question 51

____ is slurred speech (sign of stroke)

Answer 51

dysarthria

Question 52

a stroke in the L hemisphere may cayse

Answer 52

aphasia

Question 53

aphasia is the inability to

Answer 53

produce or understand speech

Question 54

a stroke in the r hemisphere may cause

Answer 54

paralysis to the left side of the body and vice versa

Question 55

if there is bleeding in the brain the patient will have very high

Answer 55

BP

Question 56

three conditions that may mimic stroke

Answer 56

hypoglycemia, postictal state, subdural or epidural bleeding

Question 57

postictal state is a period after a ____ that is ____ min and characterized ___ and ____

Answer 57

period after a seizure that is 5-30 min and characterized by labored breathing and AMS

Question 58

most seizures last

Answer 58

3-5 min

Question 59

seizures make up ___% of EMS calls

Answer 59

30%

Question 60

a ____ is unconsciousness and generalized severe twitching of all muscles

Answer 60

generalized seizure

Question 61

generalized seizures result from ____ from large areas of the brain

Answer 61

abnormal discharge

Question 62

2 subcategories of partial seizures

Answer 62

simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures

Question 63

with a ____ there is sudden loss of consciousness, chaotic muscle movemengt, apnea, and is preceded by an aura

Answer 63

tonic-clonic seizure

Question 64

tonic is

Answer 64

bilateral muscle rigidity

Question 65

clonic is

Answer 65

muscle contraction and relaxation

Question 66

____ last for just seconds, after which the patient fully recovers

Answer 66

absence seizure

Question 67

seizures that continue every few minutes without the person regaining consciousness or last longer than 30 minutes

Answer 67

status epilepticus

Question 68

4 common causes of AMS

Answer 68

hypoglycemia, overdose, intoxication, poisoning

Question 69

signs and symptoms of AMS vary from ___ to ____

Answer 69

confusion to coma

Question 70

name of the stroke assessment used during the secondary assessment

Answer 70

cincinnatti prehospital stroke scale

Question 71

cincinnatti prehospital stroke scale tests for

Answer 71

speech, facial movement, arm movement

Question 72

all patients with AMS need a

Answer 72

GCS score

Question 73

vital signs with a stroke include

Answer 73

DEC HR, erratic respirations, INC BP, changes in pupil size and reactivity