Chapter 17 - Neurologic Emergencies Flashcards

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1
Q

Altered mental status

A

Any deviation from alert and oriented to person, place, time, and event, or any deviation from a patient’s normal baseline mental status.

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2
Q

Aneurysm

A

A swelling or enlargement of the wall of a blood vessel that results from weakening of the vessel wall.

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3
Q

Aphasia

A

The inability to understand and/or produce speech.

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4
Q

Atherosclerosis

A

A disorder in which calcium and cholesterol buildup inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, potentially leading to a partial or complete blockage of blood flow.

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5
Q

Aura

A

A sensation experienced before a seizure; serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur.

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6
Q

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

A

An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called a stroke.

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7
Q

Coma

A

A state of profound unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be roused.

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8
Q

Delirium

A

A temporary change in mental status characterized by disorganized thoughts, inattention, memory loss, disorientation, striking changes in personality and affect, hallucinations, delusions, or decreased level of consciousness.

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9
Q

Dysarthria

A

Slurred speech.

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10
Q

Embolus

A

A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage.

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11
Q

Epilepsy

A

A disorder in which abnormal electrical discharges occur in the brain, causing seizure and possible loss of consciousness.

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12
Q

Febrile seizures

A

Seizures that result from sudden high fevers; most often seen in children.

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13
Q

Generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure

A

A seizure characterized by severe twitching of all the body’s muscles that may last several minutes or more; formally known as a grand mal seizure.

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14
Q

Hemiparesis

A

Weakness on one side of the body.

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15
Q

Hemorrhagic stroke

A

A type of stroke that occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.

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16
Q

Hypoglycemia

A

An abnormally low blood glucose level.

17
Q

Incontinence

A

Loss of bowel and/or bladder control; may be the result of a generalized seizure.

18
Q

Ischemia

A

A lack of oxygen that deprives tissues of necessary nutrients, resulting from partial or complete blockage of blood flow; potentially reversible because permanent injury has not yet occurred.

19
Q

Ischemic stroke

A

A type of stroke that occurs when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage (e.g., a blood clot) inside a blood vessel.

20
Q

Partial (focal) seizure

A

A seizure affecting a limited portion of the brain.

21
Q

Postictal state

A

The period following a seizure that lasts 5 to 30 minutes; characterized by labored respirations and some degree of altered mental status.

22
Q

Seizure

A

A neurologic episode caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain; can be a convulsion characterized by generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity, and can be associated with loss of consciousness.

23
Q

Status epilepticus

A

A condition in which seizures recur every few minutes or last longer than 30 minutes.

24
Q

Stroke

A

An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function; also called cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

25
Q

Syncope

A

A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.

26
Q

Thrombosis

A

A blood clot, either in the arterial or venous system. When the clot occurs in a cerebral artery, it may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow and subsequent stroke.

27
Q

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A

A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop functioning because of insufficient oxygen, causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset.