Chapter 17 Neurologic Emergencies

Question 1

Coma

Answer 1

A state of profound unconsciousness

Question 2

What causes tension headaches?

Answer 2

Caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck and are attributed to stress.

Question 3

What causes migraine headaches?

Answer 3

Are thought to be caused by changes in blood vessel size in the base of the brain.

Question 4

What causes sinus headaches?

Answer 4

Caused by pressure that is the result of fluid accumulation in the sinus cavities.

Question 5

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Answer 5

A stroke, an interruption of blood flow to an area within the brain that results in the loss of brain function

Question 6

Ischemic stroke

Answer 6

According to the American stroke association, this is the most common type of stroke accounting for more than 80% of all strokes.

When blood flow to a particular part of the brain is stopped by a blockage (blood clot) inside a blood vessel.

Question 7

Thrombosis

Answer 7

Where a clot forms at the site of blockage

Question 8

Embolus

Answer 8

Where the blood clot forms in a remote area and then travels to the site of the blockage.

Question 9

Atherosclerosis

Answer 9

A disorder in which calcium and cholesterol build up, forming plaque inside the walls of the blood vessels.

Question 10

Hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 10

Occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain

Question 11

Aneurysm

Answer 11

A swelling or enlargement of the wall of an artery resulting from a defect or weakening of the arterial wall.

Question 12

Berry aneurysm

Answer 12

This type of aneurysm resembles a tiny balloon that juts out from the artery

Question 13

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Answer 13

When stroke-like symptoms resolve on their own in less than 24 hours.

Question 14

Aphasia

Answer 14

The inability to produce or understand speech

Question 15

Signs and symptoms of stroke

Answer 15

• facial drooping
• sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or one side of the body
• decreased or absent movement and sensation on one side of the body
• lack of muscle coordination (ataxia) or loss of balance
• sudden vision loss in one eye; blurred or double vision
• difficulty swallowing
• decreased level of responsiveness
• speech disorders
• aphasia; difficulty expressing thoughts or inability to use the right words or difficulty understanding spoken words
• slurred speech (dysarthria)
• sudden and severe headache
• confusion
• dizziness
• weakness
• combativeness
• restlessness
• tongue deviation
• coma

Question 16

Seizure

Answer 16

A neurologic episode caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain.

Question 17

Postictal state

Answer 17

Period following a seizure that lasts between 5 and 30 minutes

Characterized by labored respiration’s and some degree of altered mental status

Question 18

Conditions that may mimic stroke

Answer 18

• Hypoglycemia
• postictal state
• subdural or epidural bleeding

Question 19

Generalized seizure (tonic-clonic)

Answer 19

Results from abnormal electrical discharges from large areas of the brain, usually involving both hemispheres

Question 20

Partial (focal) seizure

Answer 20

Begins in one part of the brain.

Are classified as simple or complex

In simple, no changes occurs in the patient’s level of consciousness

In complex the patient has an altered mental status and does not interact normally with his or her environment. This type of seizure results from abnormal discharges from the temporal lobe of the brain

Question 21

Aura

Answer 21

Warning sign prior to a seizure

Question 22

Status epilepticus

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Medications used most often to treat seizures include the following:

Answer 23

• levetiracetam
• phenytoin
• phenobarbital
• carbamazepine
• valproate
• topiramate
• clonazepam

Question 24

Seizures from a metabolic cause may result from

Answer 24

• abnormal levels of certain blood chemicals
• hypoglycemia
• poisons
• drug overdose
• or sudden withdrawal of routine heavy alcohol or sedative drug use or even prescribed medications

Question 25

Febrile seizures

Answer 25

Seizures that result from sudden high fevers, particularly in children

Question 26

Incontinence

Answer 26

Loss of bowel or bladder control

Question 27

Hemiparesis

Answer 27

Weakness on one side of the body

Question 28

Postictal state

Answer 28

The period following a seizure that lasts 5 to 30 minutes;

Characterized by labored respiration’s and some degree of altered mental status

Question 29

Altered mental status

Answer 29

Means the patient is not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused

Question 30

Hypoglycemia can mimic conditions in the brain associated with…

Answer 30

Stroke