COTE Flashcards
Name the 2 types of cerebrovascular accidents
- Ischaemic stroke
- Haemorrhagic stroke
Name 4 things that can disrupt the blood supply to the brain
- Thrombus/embolus
- Atherosclerosis
- Shock
- Vasculitis
What is a TIA?
Temporary (< 24hrs) neurological dysfunction caused by ischaemia without infarction
Name 6 symptoms of stroke
- Limb weakness
- Facial weakness
- Dysphasia
- Visual field defects
- Sensory loss
- Ataxia
Name 5 risk factors for stroke
- Previous stroke or TIA
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Carotid artery stenosis
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Raised cholesterol
- Family Hx
- Smoking
- Obesity
What is the FAST tool for stroke?
Face
Arm
Speech
Time
Tx: What is the management of a TIA?
- Aspirin 300mg daily
- Referral for specialist assessment
- Diffusion-weighted MRI scan
Tx: What is the immediate management of a stroke?
- Immediate CT brain (to exclude haemorrhage)
- Aspirin 300mg daily for 2 weeks + clopidogrel
- Admission to a specialist stroke centre
Tx: What management is considered once haemorrhage is excluded?
Thrombolysis with alteplase
- Alteplase is a tissue plasminogen activator that rapidly breaks down clots
- It may be given within 4.5hrs of symptom onset
Thrombectomy
* Considered in patients with a confirmed blockage of the proximal anterior/posterior circulation
* It may be considered within 24hrs of symptom onset and alongside IV thrombolysis
Ix: Name 2 things that are always investigated for in patients who have had a TIA or stroke
- Carotid artery stenosis: carotid imaging
- Atrial fibrillation: ECG
Anticoagulation is initiated for AF (after excluding haemorrhage and finishing 2 weeks of aspirin)
Surgical interventions are considered for significant CAS (carotid endarterectomy or angioplasty and stenting)
Tx: What is the secondary prevention of a stroke?
- Clopidogrel 75mg once daily
- Atorvastatin 20-80mg (not started immediately, usually delayed by at least 48hrs)
- Blood pressure and diabetes control
- Addressing modifiable risk factors (smoking, obesity, exercise)
Name 5 members involved in the MTD for stroke patients’ rehabilitation?
- Stroke physicians
- Nurses
- Speech and Language therapists
- Physiotherapy
- Dieticians
- Occupational therapy
- Social services
- Optometry and ophthalmology
- Psychology
- Orthotics
Definition: Parkinson’s disease
Condition where there is a progressive reduction in dopamine in the basal ganglia leading to disorders of movement
Sx are asymmetrical
What is the classic triad of Parkinson’s disease features?
- Resting tremor: worse at rest
- Rigidity: resisting passive movement
- Bradykinesia: slow movement
Name 5 clinical features of Parkinson’s disease (8)
- Pin-rolling tremor
- Cogwheel rigidity
- Bradykinesia: shuffling gait, micrographia, festinating gait, difficulty initiating movement, difficulty turning around, reduced facial movements/expressions
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Anosmia
- Postural instability
- Cognitive impairment/ memory problems
Tx: What are the 4 medical treatment options for Parkinson’s disease?
- Levodopa + peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor (e.g. carbidopa, benserazide)
- COMT inhibitors
- Dopamine agonists
- Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors
What is Levodopa?
- Synthetic dopamine
- Combined with a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor which stops it from being metabolised before it reaches the brain
Name 2 combination drugs to treat Parkinson’s
- Co-beneldopa (levodopa + benserazide)
- Co-careldopa (levodopa + carbidopa)
What is the main SE of Levodopa and it’s Tx?
SE: Dyskinesia
Tx: Amantadine (glutamate antagonist)
Definition: Dyskinesia
Abnormal movements associated with excessive motor activity:
- Dystonia: excessive muscle contraction leads to abnormal postures/exaggerated movements
- Chorea: abnormal involuntary movements, jerking
- Athetosis: involuntary twisting/writhing movements, usually in fingers/hands/feet
What are COMT inhibitors?
e.g. entacapone
- Inhibits catechol-o-methyltransferase which metabolises levodopa
- Taken with Levodopa to slow breakdown in the brain
What are dopamine agonists?
- Mimic action of dopamine in the basal ganglia, stimulating dopamine receptors
Name 3 dopamine agonists
- Bromocriptine
- Cabergoline
- Pergolide
What is the main SE of prolonged dopamine agonist use?
Pulmonary fibrosis