CNS Trauma Flashcards
Excess fluid in brain parenchyma
Cerebral oedema
Enlarged cerebral ventricles
Elderly
Triad of: Dementia, apraxic gait, urinary incontinence
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Obstructed CSF flow
Physical blockage
Non-communicating hydrocephalus
No obstruction to CSF flow
Lack of CSF absorption - meningitis, SAH
Communicating hydrocephalus
Raised ICP can result in…
Herniation
Normal ICP
7-15mmHg
3 main types of herniation
Subfalcine (under falx cerebri - most common)
Transtentorial (inner part of temporal lobe (uncus) compresses brainstem)
Tonsilar (coning - cerebellum through foramen magnum)
Cerebellum through foramen magnum (coning)
Tonsilar herniation
Uncus (inner temporal lobe) pushes into brainstem
Transtentorial herniation
Brain pushes under falx cerebri
Most common type of herniation
Subfalcine herniation
Stroke symptoms <24h
Resolves without permanent brain damage
Amaurosis fugax (blurred vision)
TIA
Headache, seizure, focal neurology (if severe - vomiting, LOC)
Haemorrhage
Rupture of small parenchymal vessel
Basal ganglia
Hypertension
Non-traumatic intra-parenchymal haemorrhage
High pressure system between artery and vein prone to rupture
Massive bleeding
Arteriovenous malformation
Lesion of closely packed vessels with no parenchyma in between
Low pressure recurrent bleeds
Cavernous angioma