Chapter 15 Neurologic Emergencies Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the third leading cause of death in the U.S?

A

STROKE coming in after heart disease and cancer

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2
Q

What the 3 major parts of the brain?

A

Brain Stem, Cerebellum, Cerebrum?

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3
Q

What does the brain stem control?

A

It controls basic functions, such as, breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, and pupil constriction

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4
Q

What does the cerebellum control?

A

It controls muscle and body coordination

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5
Q

What does the cerebrum control?

A

The cerebrum is divided into the right and left hemisphere, each responsible for the opposite side of the body

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6
Q

What part of the cerebrum controls emotion and thought?

A

Front part

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7
Q

What part of the cerebrum controls touch and movement?

A

Middle

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8
Q

What part of the cerebrum processes sight?

A

Back

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9
Q

How many cranial nerves run from the brain to various parts of the head?

A

There are 12 cranial nerves

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10
Q

What is the brain most sensitive to?

A

Changes in oxygen, glucose, and temperature levels

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11
Q

What is the most common type of headache and what are they caused by?

A

Tension headaches are the most common and are caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck and are attributed to stress

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12
Q

What kind of headache is caused by changes in the blood vessel size in the base of the brain?

A

Migraine headaches

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13
Q

What is the cause of sinus headaches?

A

Pressure as a result of fluid accumulation in the sinus cavities

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14
Q

What are serious conditions that include headache as a symptom?

A

HEMORRHAGIC STROKE, BRAIN TUMORS, MENINGITIS

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15
Q

What should you suspect in patients when then complain of severe headache, seizures and AMS?

A

STROKE

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16
Q

What are early signs of INCREASED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE?

A

Headache, Vomiting, AMS, and Seizures

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17
Q

What are symptoms of BACTERIAL MENINGITIS?

A

Headaches, Stiff Neck, Fever, and Sensitivity to Light

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18
Q

What is CVA?

A

CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT aka STROKE

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19
Q

What is ISCHEMIA?

A

A lack of oxygen that causes the cells not to function properly

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20
Q

What is an ISCHEMIC STROKE?

A

Due to the direct blockage of blood flow through the cerebral arteries

21
Q

What is a HEMORRHAGIC STROKE?

A

A blood vessel ruptures, causing increased pressure in the brain and subsequent brain damage

22
Q

What are the two possible causes of the blockage of blood flow which causes an Ischemic Stroke?

A

THROMBOSIS, where a clot forms at the site of blockage or EMBOLUS, where the clot forms in a remote area and travels to the site of blockage

23
Q

What is the most common type of stroke?

A

ISCHEMIC STROKE and it accounts for more than 80% of all strokes combined

24
Q

What is the name of the disorder in which calcium and cholesterol build up, forming plaque inside the walls of the blood vessels?

A

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

25
Q

What kind of stroke accounts for 10-20% of all strokes?

A

HEMORRHAGIC STROKE

26
Q

Who are at highest risk of having a hemorrhagic stroke?

A

Those with high blood pressure or long term elevated blood pressure that is not treated

27
Q

Those born with weaknesses in the wall of the arteries have what?

A

ANEURYSM, the swelling or enlargement of part of an artery resulting from weakening of the arterial wall

28
Q

What is a BERRY ANEURYSM?

A

This type of aneurysm resembles a berry that juts out from the artery and is the most common type of stroke when a healthy young person has a stroke.

29
Q

What is the medical term for a ministroke?

A

TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

30
Q

What is APHASIA?

A

Inability to produce or understand stpeech and occurs when the patient’s left cerebral hemisphere has been affected by a stroke

31
Q

What happens when the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain is not getting enough blood?

A

Patients will have trouble moving the muscles on the left side of the body

32
Q

What are three conditions that may mimic stroke?

A

HYPOGLYCEMIA, POSTICTAL STATE, SUBDURAL OR EPIDURAL BLEEDING

33
Q

What happens when a patient is in a postictal state?

A

a period following a seizure that lasts between 5-30 minutes, characterized by labored respirations and some degree of AMS

34
Q

What is a SEIZURE?

A

A convulsion, is a temporary alteration in consciousness and is the reason behind almost 30% of EMS calls

35
Q

What kind of seizure begins in one part of the brain and is classified as simple or complex?

A

PARTIAL SEIZURE

36
Q

What do patients complain about when they have a partial seizure?

A

Numbness, weakness, or dizziness

37
Q

What is AMS?

A

Altered mental status

38
Q

What happens during a TONIC CLONIC SEIZURE?

A

Patient may exhibit bilateral movement characterized by muscle rigidity and relaxation usually lasting 1-3 minutes

39
Q

What is STATUS EPILEPTICUS?

A

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

40
Q

What are FEBRILE SEIZURES?

A

These seizures result from sudden high fevers, usually in children and in these cases, the child needs to be taken to the hospital for further evaluations

41
Q

What happens when a patient experiences INCONTINENCE?

A

Loss of control over bowel and bladder functions

42
Q

What can resemble a stroke while in the postictal state?

A

HEMIPARESIS which is the weakness on one side of the body

43
Q

What are the most common symptoms during the postictal state?

A

lethargy and confusion

44
Q

Symptoms in hypoglycemia can mimic stroke or seizures BUT there is a principal difference. What is the difference?

A

Patients who have had a stroke may be alert and attempting to communicate whereas a patient with hypoglycemia almost always has an altered state of consciousness

45
Q

What can reverse stroke symptoms and even stop the stroke if given within 2-3 hours of the onset of symptoms?

A

THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY which are clot dissolvers

46
Q

What kind of patients cannot be given thrombolytic therapy?

A

Patients suffering from hemorrhagic strokes

47
Q

What needs to be monitored in a patient suffering a seizure?

A

You should monitor their oxygen saturation level with a pulse oximeter, and apply high flow oxygen; oxygen is rapidly consumed during seizure activity

48
Q

What is your responsibility to a patient who has AMS?

A

Determining the cause, spinal immobilization as indicated, airway and ventilation support, and transport to the appropriate facility