CNS Trauma - Exam 3 Flashcards
What part of the brain is responsible for problem solving, creative thinking and personality?
frontal lobe
What part of the brain is responsible for memories?
temporal lobe
What part of the brain is responsible for basic life functions?
brain stem
What part of the brain is responsible for visual functions, reading and understanding language?
parietal lobe
What part of the brain is responsible for vision?
occipital lobe
What part of the meninges is superficial and fuses brain to skull?
dura mater
What part of the meninges reduces friction and is filled with CSF as a shock absorbed?
arachnoid mater
What part of the meninges is very vascular and needs a lot of oxygen due to the high metabolic rate of neurons?
pia mater
What is a primary brain injury? What is another name for it?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
What is a secondary brain injury? What does it lead to?
A cascade of molecular injury mechanisms that are initiated at the time of initial trauma and continue for hours or days
Neuronal Cell Death
What are some examples of things that fall under the secondary brain injury category?
Neurotransmitter-mediated excitotoxicity causing glutamate, free-radical injury to cell membranes
Electrolyte imbalances
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Inflammatory responses
Apoptosis
Secondary ischemia from vasospasm, focal microvascular occlusion, vascular injury
What 4 things need to be avoided when treating a traumatic brain injury?
hypotension
hypoxia
hyperglycemia
Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)
**How do you calculate MAP?
**How do you calculate CPP? What is it?
CPP is cerebral perfusion pressure
What does hypocarbia (tachypnea/alkalosis) and HTN cause? What does it lead to?
cause vasoconstriction which increases resistance and decreases ICP
**What is the goal MAP in TBI? What is a normal ICP?
**GOAL: ≥ 80
normal ICP: 10-15mmHg
** What is the Cushing reflex? (increased/decreased) ICP?
HTN, bradycardia and decreased respiratory drive
increased ICP
What are some treatments that can be performed in the ER that lower ICP?
Patient positioning - Elevate Head of bead to 30° - It can lower ICP by 10-15mm Hg
Glucose: 80-180 - decreases metabolic demand
Temperature control: 36-38° C (96.8 - 100.4 Fahrenheit)
O2 Sat >90
Seizure Tx (IV Lorazepam)
Seizure Prophylaxis (IV Phenytoin)
Especially if GCS <10
**What does their glucose need to be specifically between in order to lower ICP? **What does their temperature need to be between?
glucose between 80-180
Temperature control: 36-38° C (96.8 - 100.4 Fahrenheit)
What is the preferred seizure prophylaxis when trying to lower ICP? Especially if GCS _____
(IV Phenytoin)
Especially if GCS <10
What are the 3 MC age ranges for pts with a TBI?
0-4
15-24
>75
**What are the 2 reversal agents for warfarin?
Vit K and 4-factor PCC
**What is the reversal agent for heparin/LMWH?
protamine sulfate
**What is the reversal agents for dabigatran?
idarucizumab
dabigatran is pradaxa, Praxbind is reversal agents
**What are the two reversal agent for apixaban, betrixaban. edoxaban, rivaroxaban?
andexanet alfa (Andexxa)
4-factor PCC
If a pt was in a car accident, what two questions do you want to know?
Was the pt wearing their seatbelt?
Was the airbag deployed?
What are the ABCDE of the physical exam when evaluating a trauma pt?
**Rewrite the entire Glasgow Coma scale. What are the differences between localizing and withdrawl?
do it!!!
localizing - 5 points - pts pushes the providers hand out of the way to remove the source of the pain
withdrawl - 4 points - moves the body out of the way of the source of pain
** What is the difference between decorticate and decerebrate posturing? What is the scoring for each?
decorticate is 3
decerebrate is 2
What is the GCS scale for a minor, moderate and severe brain injury? **When do you need to intubate?
minor: GCS 13-15
moderate: GCS 8-12
severe: GCS less than 8
less than 8 need to intubate!!
T/F: The GCS is usually done upon arrival to the ED and that score sticks with the pt for the entire visit
FALSE!!! the GCS needs to be checked multiple times during the encounter and can change at any time
**What are the 3 inclusion rules according to the Canadian CT rule
Age >16 <66
Not on blood thinners (Baby ASA OK)
No seizure after injury
What are the high risk criteria according to the Canadian CT rule?
GCS <15 at 2 hrs after injury
Suspected or confirmed skull fracture
Signs of basilar skull fracture
≥ 2 episodes of vomiting
What are the medium risk criteria according to the Canadian CT rule?
Retrograde amnesia ≥30 minutes before event
Dangerous Mechanism
What is considered a “dangerous mechanism” according to the medium risk canadian rule CT?
Pedestrian hit by vehicle
Occupant ejected from vehicle
Fall from >3 feet or >5 stairs
or someone in the car died
What scale is used to determine if children need a CT or not? What age specifically?
the PECARN
children less than 16
**Draw the PECARN scale. What is considered “observation?”
*Observation = 4-6 Hrs from onset of injury
What are some s/s of a concussion? What is their GCS range? What will their CT look like?
Loss of memory from before the event, visual changes (seeing stars), loss of consciousness for any period of time, any alteration of mental state
mild TBI: 13-15
normal CT scan if obtained
What is a diffuse axonal injury? What 3 things does it cause?
happens as part of a TBI and excitatory neurotransmitters and inflammatory markers are release
thought to cause swelling, secondary injury and neurodegeneration
aka catacholimines comes out of neurons
What are some acute s/s of concussion?
confusion: +/- LOC
amnesia: may forget traumatic event
HA
dizziness
N/V
light sensitivity
sleep disturbancs
difficulty thinking
What are 4 neuro findings that may be associated with a concussion but are problematic and REQUIRE further work-up?
Focal neurological deficit - i.e. limb weakness, hemiparesis
Visual field deficit
Pupil abnormality
Horner Syndrome
** Remember: Strokes can be caused by ______
traumatic hemorrhage
____ and ____ are used in a sports setting to assess concussions. What is important to note about these tests?
SAC
SCAT5
Need to get one before the season starts (for baseline)