Diagnostic foundation Flashcards
The law of parsimony
a principle according to which an explanation of a thing or event is made with the fewest possible assumptions
simple
Most common complication of a lumbar puncture
headache
A lumbar puncture is indicated for the following
1 suspicion of meningitis
2 a subarachnoid
hemorrhage,
3 CNS disease
4 for therapeutic relief of pseudotumor
cerebri
The most common
means for obtaining a sample of CSF is through
a lumbar puncture
lumbar puncture
should be deferred in those with a
low platelet count or with other coagulation deficits
irritation of nerves or nerve roots by the spinal needle can cause different
lower extremity _______.
Dysesthesia
The electroencephalogram (EEG) provides
provides a record of the electrical activity of the cerebral
cortex
The most serious complication of lumbar puncture
cerebral herniation
Alpha is the frequency range from
typically found…
is the frequency range from 8 Hz to 12 Hz
an adult is awake but relaxed
Theta is the frequency range from
typically found …
4 to 7 Hz
young children, drowsiness or arousal in older children and adults, meditation
Delta is the frequency range up to
typically found …
3
adults in slow wave sleep, babies
- Most likely condition after a lumbar puncture -
RBC - no xanthochromia
RBC - xanthochromia
-Traumatic tap
-Subarachmoid hemorrhage; hemorrhagic
encephalitis
Beta is the frequency range from
typically found ….
12 - 30 Hz
active, busy, anxious thinking, active concentration
- Most likely condition after a lumbar puncture -
WBC - polymorphs
WBC - lymphocytes
-bacterial or early viral infection
-infection, demyelination, lymphoma
- Most likely condition after a lumbar puncture -
elevated protein
low glucose
- infection, demyelination, tumors, sarcoidosis, age
- bacterial infection, mycobacterial infection
- Most likely condition after a lumbar puncture -
oligoclonal bands
positive EBV PCR
-demyelination, CNS infections, noninfectious processes
- highly suggestive of CNS lymphoma in pt with AIDS or other immunosuppressed states
- NCV study -
Distal latency
demyelination vs axonal
D: markedly prolonged
A: normal or mildly prolonged
- NCV study -
Conduction velocity
Demy vs axon
D: markedly reduced
A: normal or slightly slowed
- NCV study -
Compound muscle action amplitude
Dem vs axon
D: normal or mildy reduced
A: reduced
There is typically a total of about __ mL of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at
any given time in the nervous system, and it is produced at a constant rate of about __
mL/minute.
150
.5
Nuclear medicine imaging technique that
produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body
PET scan
Uses blood flow as a contrast agent and MR technique to define vascular anatomy
MRS
Involves threading a catheter up the aorta (usually from the
femoral artery) and placing the tip of the catheter within different sites of the cerebral
vasculature – and then injecting a dye such as iodine
Conventional Angiography
What can occur from contaminated spinal needles
Cellulitis, skin abscesses, epidural abscesses, spinal abscesses, or diskitis
