Definitions Flashcards
Stroke
An ACUTE ONSET of FOCAL NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT of the CNS (excluding spinal cord) from VASCULAR ONSET
Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
Acute onset neurological deficit of ischaemic origin with speedy recovery within 5-20min (mostly within 2h)
(Not epileptic)
Stroke risk factors
HT (leads to fromation of artherosclerosis - thrombosis), Atrial fibrillation (embolism) & valve lesions
Syncope
Transient, brief loss of consciousness resulting from a short-lived decrease in cerebral blood flow
Epilepsy
Paroxysmal electrical disturbance of cerebral neurons which may give rise to dysfunction of the motor system, sensory system, behavior, consciousness and autonomic function.
Status Epilepticus
Continuous tonic clonic seizure activity for >30 min
OR
A series of epileptic seizures during which function is not regained between ictal events in a 30 minute period
Headache
Pain that is experienced in the distribution of the opthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve and of the second and third cervical roots
Horner’s Syndrome
Interrupted sympathetic supply to eye
-classic triad: miosis (constricted), partial ptosis, anhidrosis (loss of hemifacial sweating)
Vertigo
Hallucination of spinning movement of patient self or their surroundings, accompanied by autonomic symptoms (sweating, pallor, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting)
Dizziness
Hallucination of movement other than spinning - forwards, backwards, to the sides or up/downwards
Narcolepsy
Tetrad
- excessive daytime somnolence (sleepiness)
- cataplexy (muscle weakness/paralysis and fully aware)
- sleep paralysis
- hypnogenic hallucinations
Sleep apnoea syndrome
- Alternating snoring and apnea during sleep: >10 apnea episodes in 1hr, or more than 10 episodes of oxygen desaturations or awakenings per hour
- diagnosis suspected if other conditions present:
- excessive daytime somnolence
- snoring
- night restlessness
- abnormal awakenings
- night time insomnia
- obesity
- pulmonary HT
- RHS heart failure
- Polycythemia
apnoea
Cessation of airflow for >10s
Sleep drunkenness
-unable to be woken up at a specific time
3 Components of consciousness
- cognitive (intellect)
- conative (drive/will)
- affective (emotion)
Immediate memory
- working/soundboard memory
- ability to repeat just-received verbal, melodious or spatial information immediately
Anterograde memory
- the ability to learn new information - closely related to episodic memory
- learn/remember a number of items, recall 5min later
Episodic memory
-a form of explicit memory (accessible to consciousness) which is specific regarding personal experience of time, place and context
(Emotional impact capping of the event)
-closely related to anterograde memory (same pathway)
Retrograde memory
-long term memory: ability to recall previously learned info
Cerebral hemisphere functions
- Orientation
- General knowledge
- Hallucinations / illusions / delusions
- Memory
- Calculation and Concentration
- Emotional state / drive
- Insight / intellect
- Category fluency
- Folstein mini mental
Delirium
-aka confusion
Def: an acute, reversible, diffuse, organic cerebral hemisphere failure or dysfunction, with disturbance of consciousness
- decreased level of consciousness
- disturbance of sleep-wake cycle (sometimes inverted)
- impaired attention (inability to focus, maintain or shift attention)
- disturbance of working memory (gives rise to anterograde memory problem with disorientation for time, place and person)
Dementia
Deterioration of memory and cognitive function compared to previous level of functioning determined by history of deterioration in capabilities and by dysfunctions determined by clinical examination.
-diagnosis can only be based on behavior (clinical - no tests)