Geriatrics Flashcards
Abbreviated mental test score
Snapshot at that point in time
What is tested in AMT??
Place Time Year Age DOB Immediate + short term memory Dates of WWII Monarch Count to 1
Folstein mini-mental test
30 questions.
snap shot
Clock drawing test
All on one side- neglect- lesion on the opposite side.
Anosognosia
Deny any problems with their clock
Interlocking pentagons
apraxia
ACER
Addenbrooks cognitive examination
MOCA
Montreaal cognitive assessment
BASDEC
Screen for depression (out of 21)
GDS
out of 15
Geriatric depression scale
Hamilton score
out of 30
Cornell score
Depression in dementia
Barthel Index Functional Scale
Stroke rehab
Out of 20 or 100
Berg Balance Score
PTs to assess stability
out of 56 (low is bad)
Dizziness affects
13-38% of the elderly.
Peripheral vestibular causes of dizziness
Vestibular end organs and nerves
Vertigo with a visual feeling of movement.
Peripheral vertigo
Tinnitus and ear pain
Feeling of a fullness in the ear.
Causes of middle ear sepsis
Otitis media
Cholesteatoma
Inner ear disease
Menieres Vestibular neuronitis BPPV Ramsey-Hunt Drugs
Ramsey Hunt
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is typically associated with a red rash and blisters (inflamed vesicles or tiny water-filled sacks in the skin) in or around the ear and eardrum and sometimes on the roof of the mouth or tongue. HERPES
Vestibular neuronitis
Vestibular neuronitis is a paroxysmal attack of severe vertigo (dizziness) which is not accompanied by deafness or tinnitus (ringing in the ear). It affects young to middle-aged adults and often follows a nonspecific upper respiratory infection.
BPPV
A balance disorder that results in the sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head.
Menieres
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease often fluctuate and include ringing, ear fullness, hearing loss, and poor equilibrium.
Drugs that are ototoxic
Gentamycin
Furosemide
Central vertigo
Feelings of being pushed from the sides
Often precipitated by moving head.
Causes of central vertigo
Vertebrobasillar insufficiency
Cerebral infarct
Degenerative dieasess
Tumour
Majority of elderly vertigo?
Central
CVS dizziness what is it?
Impending faint
Decreased cerebral perfusion
0 usually when standing.
What causes CVS dizziness?
Orthostatic hypotension
Blood volume loss
Arrhythmias and vasovagal symptoms.
Drugs that cause vertigo
Hypertensives Anticonvulsants Sedatives Antibiotics NSAIDS Aspirin
Extreme drug for vertigo
Cinnarazine
Sedates vestibular system (only V.unwell acute vertigo).
Driving and syncope
Cannot drive for 1m
Definition of syncope
Transient LOC and spontaneous recovery
Decreased cerebral blood flow.
Left ventricular outflow tract obstructions
AS
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
Cardiac conduction disorders causing syncope
VT
Complete heart block
Previous MI
Known LVF.
Pacemaker?
when pauses >2.7s
Sinus node arrhythmias (not usually life threatening)
Sinus arrest
Sinus bradycardia (with symptoms)
SVT
Ventricular arrhythmias and syncope
Broad complex tachycardia
VF
Vasovagal syncope
Vagal stimulation
XS heart rate slowing and vasodilatation
Who gets vasovagal?
Young- emotion and panic attacks
Old- dehydration, medication, baro-reflex malfunction
Tilt table
BP measured up to 70 degrees.
Nitroglycerin to exacerbate it.
Use after 2nd unexplained episode.
Carotid sinus syndrome
hypersensitivity of carotid sinus
Vasodilatation and bradycardia
Asystole of up to 3sec can happen.
Put deep pressure on sinus.
Postural hypotension
Doesn’t usually cause you to SYNCOPE
Associated with DM and Lewy Body
400-800ml of blood in abdomen and when we stand volume drop of up to 30%
Epilepsy in eldery
Less than 5% of new cases.
Plethysmograph
beat to beat monitorin
Treatment for VT
Drugs and implantable defib.
Dementia increases your falls risk by
200%
Get up and go test
Should be <20 secs (walk 3m each way)
Lying/standing BP
Lying for >5mins
Stand up and measure at 0, 1, 3 mins
>20mmHg drop with SYMPTOMS= diagnostic
Where can we refer people who have had falls??
PHYSIO!
Vit D
Important for balance.
DXA scan
T>-1 is normal.
T of -1 to -2.5= osteopaenia
T of >2.5= osteoporosis.
T score DXA scan
Compare to young age
Z score DXA scan
Compare to same age bone.
Fracture NOF treatment
Operate in 48h if possible.
Intracapsular fracture
Hemiarthroplasty- blood supply compromised.
Extracapsular fracture
Reduction and internal fixation DHS
Alendronate
Women over 75
Women 50-75 with T score <-2.5 and risk factors
(still need calcium and fit D.)
If unable to tolerate alendronate
Denosumab SC 6 monthly.
Zoledronic acid 1y infusion.
Imaging for NOF fracture
Plain Xray- MRI- CT
2nd line after bisphosphonates
SERMS
Strontium
(no longer really used- MI and blood clots).
If on steroids for more than 3 months
Give bone protection.
TACI
- Contralateral hemiparesis (w or w/o sensory deficit)
2/3 body areas involved. - Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cortical dysfunction
PACI
Less intensive than a TACI.
- Isolated higher cortical dysfunction
- FOCAL motor/sensory loss
POCS
Brainstem ischaemia with CN involvement
SAME sided motor problems.
OPPOSITE side sensory problems.
LACS
Watershed zones
No visual signs, cortical defects or loss of consiousness.
Amaurosis fugax
transient occulsion of the retinal artery
Dragging leg in weeks preceeding to event
Tumour
Hypertension increases your risk of stroke by
4-6x
Biggest risk factor for stroke
HYPERTENSION
How many strokes have AF?
15%
CHADS2
Congestive heart failure (1) Hypertension (1) Age >75 (1) Diabetes (1) Prior stroke/TIA (2)
Alternatives to warfarin
Dabigatran
Rivaroxaban
Apixaban
Avoid warfarin in:
Recurrent falls Alochol Prior bleeding Recent GI/cerebral bleed Cognitive problems.
Target INR
- 5 for most
3. 5-4 for metal valve.
Most strokes are:
embolic
How many ischamic strokes will look normal initally on MRI?
30%
Where is a TACI?
Carotid or middle cerebral artery.
Where is a PACI?
Branch of middle cerebral
Where is a POCS?
Vertebrobasilar arteries
Cerebella ischaemia
same sided DANISH
Midbrain ischaemia
can have some ant + posterior circulation signs.
Antithrombotics for:
NIH of 8-15 in first 3 hours.
0.9mg/Kg of Alteplase
10% bolus in first 2 mins then rest over an hour.
Types of LACS
Pure motor
Pure sensory
Sensorimotor
Pure motor LACS where?
Internal capsule or pons
Pure sensory LACS where?
Thalamus
Sensorimotor LACS?
Thalamus or internal capsule
Best type of stroke for mortality?
LACI
Worst type of stroke for mortality?
TACI
How much does antithrombosis decrease mortality?
45%
ABCD2
Age >60 (1) BP (1) Clinical: Unilateral weakness (2) Speech (1) Duration: 10-60mins (1) >60mins (2) Diabetes (1)
Stroke can cause what for the first time?
Hyperglycaemia
TEDS in stroke
no-no
anticoagulants after stroke
Postpone for 2 weeks.
Area around infarct
Penumbra
2nd prevention for stroke
Clopidogren 75mg Carotid endarterectomy Warfarin BP= Perindopril or Indapamide Statins (chol>5.2)
Services for patients and carers with severe dysphasia
CONNECT
Dipyridamole
Anti-platelet
Assess swallowing
Video Fluoroscopy GOLD STANDARD
Fibreoptic, endoscopic examination of swallow (FEES)
Gag reflex- means NOTHING!
SALT review
Picks’ dementia
Frontal dementia Under 65s Good orientation Change in behaviour Tau proteins Speech (aphasia)
Down’s dementia
Its a thing
Reversible causes of dementia
Hydrocephalus Alcohol Neurosyphillis hypothyroidism Vit B12 deficiency
Memory
Sensory
Primary- short term
Secondary- long term
Tests for dementia
FBC U&E LFT TFT Plasma glucose Vit B12 Serology for syphilils CXR Brain CT/MRI LP EEG Autoimmune profile.
RF for Alzheimers
Obese Diabetic Binge Drinkers Low exercise NOT ALUMINIUM
AD features on biopsy
Amyloid core in cortex and sub-cortex.
Depletion of ACh
Temporal lobe and hippocampus most affected.
Drugs for AD
AChEI:
Galantamine
Donepezil
Rivastigmine
Vascular dementia history
headaches and dizziness
UMN signs, primitive reflexes, pseudo-bulbar palsy
Treatment for vascular dementia
treat risk factors
low dose aspirin
Hachinski ischaemia score
Vascular dementia
Hydrocephalus triad
Gait disturbance
Urinary incontinence
Dementia
Where are lewy bodies?
Cerebral cortex.
Fearuers of LBD
Fluctuating Bradykinesia Rigidity Visual hallucinations Postural hypotension.
Treatment LBD
Anti-parkinsonian drugs.
CAM
Confusion assessment measure
- Acute and fluctuating.
- Inattention
- Disorganised
- Altered level of consciousness.
CJD
Prion
Sporadic or from BSE (meat)
Wernickes
Delirium and opthalmoplegia
Korsakoff’s
Amnesia and confabulation
Treatment for wernickes/korsakoff
PABRINEX!
Features of delirium (science)
Cholinergic deficiency
domaine excess
Altered BBB
increase in cortisol
RF for delirium
Age over 65
Dementia
Hip fracutre
Severe illness
Causes of delirium
Infection Cardiac Respiratory Dehydration Endocrine Drugs Withdrawal Retention Constipation Neurological
Clinical features of delirium
Acute Fluctuating Inattention Altered consciousness Disordered thinking Altered sleep
If VERY delirious can consider:
Lorazepam 0.5mg PO or SC or IM
Parkinsons triad
Bradykinesia
Tremor
Rigidity
Clinical diagnosis of parkinson’s
Brain bank criteria
Tremor in parkinsons
Pill rollin
4-6Hz (low
Asymmetrical
at rest
Rigidity in parkinsons
Stiffness
Lead pipe or cogwheel (when you get the tremor on top)
Bradykinesia in parkinsons
Soft voice, hypomimia Small writing Stooped posture Small step length Decreased arm swing Drooling
Non motor features of parkinsons
Mental health- psychosis, depression, impulse control
Sleep disorders- vivid dreams and restless leg
Posture instability
ANS: bladder, erections, hypotension, constipation.
What causes the PD tremor?
Excess ACh
Progressive supranuclear palsy
60 year olds. Live for 5 years. Dementia abnormal eye movements righting reflex
Multi-system atrophy
50years old
Live for 5-8 years.
autonomic problems and pyramidal signs
Respiratory problems.
Corticobasal degeneration
60 years old
rare
Lewybody is a:
alpha synucleinopathy.
LBs in DA cells which then die.
PRE SYNAPTIC
Lewybodies can also be found:
rest of brain
GI tract
heart
etc..
Later on in PD:
serotonin and ACh pathways affected.
Treatment for PD- gold standard:
L-dopa (with dopa-carboxylase)
Sinemet
Madopar
Sinemet
Co-careldopa
Madopar
Co-beneldopa
COMT-i
Reduce breakdown of L-dopa
Entacapone
Dopamine agonist
post-synaptic
Pramipexole
MAOBi
Selegiline
Stopes breakdown of endogenous DA
Anti-ACh
rarely used for tremor.
Hypothermia definition
<35
Mild hypothermia
32-35
Moderate hypothermia
28-32
Severe hypothermia
less than 28
Hypothermia increases your risk of
thrombosis pneumonia bronchitis VF pancreatitis infection
Body in hypothermia
decreased shivering
decreased BMR
Decreased perception of cold
decreased vasoconstriction
Stages of response to hypothermia
- Peripheral vasoconstriction (increase HR and BP)
- decrease HR due to heartblock/VT/VF
- Cardiac arrest (decrease BP due to decrease CO)
RF for hypothermia
Extremes of age:
Alcohol ingestion: vasodilation, impaired shivering and awareness, hypothalamic dysfunction
Sepsis
hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, hypoadrenalism, diabetes, hypoglycemia
Head injury: central core temperature dysregulation
Drug ingestions (especially phenothiazines and barbiturates)
GI side effects of hypothermia
Pancreatitis
Hepatic dysfunction
Decreased peristalsis
Kidney side effects of hypothermia
decreased renal blood flow rate
decreased GFR
ATN
Neuro side effects of hypothermia
slurred speech ataxia tremor rigidity hyPO reflex
Hormones in hypothermia
increase in cortisol
metabolism in hypothermia
decreased BMR and oxygen consumption
increase glucose (insulin doesn’t work)
increased CK
Oedema
Rewarming for >31deg
slow surface rewarming.
25 degree room, blankets+
+0.5deg an hour
measure BP, T, ECG every 30 mins
Rapid surface rewarming
Hot bath (41-45deg) or hugger blanket.
Risks with rapid surface rewarming
Vasodilatation
drop in BP
VT/VF
warming someone under 28deg
Rapid core warming
Inhaled gas and IV fluids 42deg
Peritoneal lavage (38-48deg)
CPR continues until patient is
30deg
What happens to potassium on rewarming?
Falls
Prevention of hypothermia in old/poor
Fuel grants
Essential household equipment
Cold weather payments
Prevalence of pressure sores in over 70
50%
RF for pressure sore
Immobility Incontinence Decrease sensation Hypotension Oedema Dehydration Confusion DM Malnutrition Anaemia Low albumin
Grades of pressure sores
- Erythema
- Erythema and blister/ulcer
- Ulcer to subcutanous
- Ulcer to deep fascia- destruction of muscle.
Most common sites of pressure sores:
sacrum
Greater trochanter
(shoulders,occiput,heels)
Score for sores
Waterlow
Normal capillary pressure
12-32mmHg
Topical enzymatic agents for sores
Streptokinase
Gel to promote healine
Hydrocolloid
Undernutrition definition
BMI <20
MUST stands for
Malnutrition universal screening tool
MUST
BMI 18.5-20 (1) 10%=2
Acute disease no food for 2 days (2)
Overall risk 0=low, 1=med, 3=high
How to monitor undernutrirtion
Diary
Review monthly in care/community
weekly in hospital
drugs that cause loss of appeitite
Codeine Tramadol Morphine Abx Diuretics SSRIs
Drugs to improve appetite
Mirtazepine
Prevalence of incontinence
50% in nursing home
15% in community
Pudendal nerve
Somatic (not SNS or PSNS)
EXTERNAL SPHINCTER and pelvic floor
Contracts to hold urine in
activated during coughing and sneezing.
PSNS for bladder
S2/3/4
Innervates detrusor to contract.
SNS for bladder
INTERNAL sphincter
alpha adrenergic
lower thoracic and upper lumbar part of spinal cord.
Drug causes of incontinence
Loop diuretics
Anti-cholinergics (impairs detrusor)
Sedatives
Narcotics (impairs detrusor)
alpha adrenergics- increase tone of internal sphin
anti-alpha adren- decrease tone of internal sphin
beta adrenergic SNS
relaxes bladder.
Overflow incontinence
atonic bladder (DM, MS, Spinal injury) dribbling prostate, stricture, constipation
Overactive bladder
commonest cause in elderly
Infection, tumour, stones, stroke, PD
Stress incontinence
weak pelvic floor (most common cause in youngers
age
hormones
child birth
Test for incontinence
Urodynamic tests
Incontinence in PD
detrusor hyperactivity
URGE incontinence
Normal capacity of bladder
300-600ml
First urge to void
150-300ml
Reversible causes of incontinence
Delirium Infection Atrophic vaginitis Drugs Psychosocial Endocrine Restricted mobility Stool
Drugs for stress incontinence
Duloxetine
Oestrogen
Faecal incontinence
Impaction
Behavioural problems
Damage during child birth
Malignancy
Section 2 in a MDT
needs a social work assessment
section 5 in MDT
medically stable and ready for discharge by awaiting social reason
CM7
care plan that doctors and nurses fill in together highlighting needs and medical issues.
Support for carers
crossroads
carersonline
Carers allowance
£58
Driving after unexplained syncope
6 month ban
antalgic gait
limp
gestinant gait
short- catching up with centre of gravity
Parkinson
Drug absorption in eldery
unaltered
Drug distribution
less muscle, more fat
less water
less albumin
Drug metabolism
smaller liver + less blood to liver= decreased metabolism
less P450
Drug elimination
lower GFR
Prima facie
Wills
Make decision when they no longer can
Lasting power of attorney
health or
property and finance
Lay advocates
when no relatives or friends
Advance directive- only health decisions
court of protection can overrule
Human rights 2, 3, 5, 8,
2-life
3- no torture
5- liberty/security
8- private and family life.
DNAR
valid for current admission only- within 72h of admission
Glut
activates
GABA
inhibits
5HT
activates motor
inhibits sensory
Rehab
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
Discharge
Social services- plan package
Early discharge scheme- SS/OT/PT
Rapid response teams- medical review in community
Intermediate care: improve physical function in community.
Dyspraxia
speech motor programming
medicine reconciliation
talking between doctors and pharmacists
what is important for position sense and control?
inner ear
brainstem
cerebellum
cortex
What are the sensory receptors important for dizziness
vision
vestibular
peripheral
joint proprioceptors
Increase sway with
increase age
acute dizziness
vestibular neuronitis BPV Menieres- but very rare and arguably not benign acute MI acute stroke blood loss
chronic dizziness affects
13-38% of the eldery
Dizziness+tinnitus/hearingloss=
peripheral hearing loss
Dizziness+double vision worse on reading
central- cranial nerve 9
immediate recall looks at
concentration
short term memory may need
prompts
short term memory and problems in another domain may indicate
dementia
Most common cause for an altered minimental
delirium
PH9Q
depression used by GPs
if significantly impaired what do you use to assess mental state
Cornell Score
observations
carbocystein
mucolytic
dizziness 6 hours after overdose of…
aspirin
what position are you dizzy in with central neurological dizziness?
ALL
Vertigo drugs that cause it:
hypertensives anticonvulsants sedatives (benzos and antidepressants) Antibiotics NSAIDS Aspirin
Aspirin and dizziness
Tinnitus too!
hall pike test
patients head turned 45deg to one side when sat upright then extended slightly whilst the patient lies supine so their head is over the side of cough.
positive if: vertigo or nystagmus occurs.
Aortic Stenosis
SECURES Slow rising/small volume/syncope Ejection click Carotid thrill Upper right Ejection systolic
Investigations for dizziness
FBC (anaemic?) U+Es (dehydrated?) Glucose TFT 24 ambulatory ECG
ENT investigations for dizziness
audiology
MRI
caloric test
CT head only if experiencing central vertigo or has neuro signs.
betahistine
tinnitus
neuronitis
Nystagmus
Hearing loss
Pt tends to fall towards affected side
follows febrile illness.
epley maneuver
BPPV
patient sits up straight and examiner rotates their head towards AFFECTED ear.
patient lies down rapidly with nexck extended over edge of bed.
examiner rotates patient’s head towards the other side.
reasoning behind Epley
debris is removed from the semicircular canals
most common structural cardiac problem in old age that is treatable and causes syncope
aortic stenosis
aortic stenosis most often caused by
congenital bicuspid valves
do an echo when: (syncope)
there is a murmur or abnormal ECG
clues for life threatening cardiac syncope
previous MI
family history of sudden cardiac death
known left ventricular failure.
if an arrythmia is suspected then you would do:
a 7 day R test or an implantable REVEAL depnding on symptom frequency
tilt table
up till 70 deg
do a tilt table when:
more than 1 unexplained syncope
single episode with injury.
carotid sinus syndrome
asystoles of more than 3 seconds.
test at a special clinic by applying deep pressure to carotid sinus.
observe BP and ECG at the same time
postural hypotension and fall
postural hypotension is a very uncommon cause for a fall
othostatic intolerant
severe autonomic degenerative disease.
people at risk of autonomic neuropathy
Diabetics
Lewy-Body disease
epilepsy accounts for % of syncope
5%
pacemaker in:
neurogenic syncope with asystolic resopnse and frequent symptoms
VF
amiodarone
or implantable defibrilation
fludrocortisone
postural hypotension
midodrine
alpha agonist
cannot drive for (syncope)
1 month
number of >65s who fall in community in a year
1/3
number of >75s who fall in community in a year
40%
dementia increases your falls by
2x (200%)
how many risk factors for falling?
> 400
intrinsic risk factors
problem with the patient
extrinsic factors
due to something other than the patient
electrolyte causes of falling
low sodium
low potassium
high calcium
drugs, dementia, depression
central processing of balance.
fear of falling
well recognized
specific objective rating scales
Fall–>fear falling–>decrease acitivty–>decrease muscle–>unsteady–>fall repeat
how many falls cause physical injury?
5-15%
when to test PTH
raised calcium or
eGFR over 30
falls clinics decrease falls by
30% a year
otago programme
falls
personalised programme
5 home visits
lifetime risk of fractured NOF
Men= 6%
Women=18%
hip fractures and mortality
10% die in a month
30% in a year
if there is any doubt about fracture NOF
xrays taken to consultant radiologist. MRI
if a TIA lasts longer than an hour
usually an area of infarction that corresponds with the symptoms
what type of occlusion might cause bilateral signs??
Basilar
stroke is the … most common case of dearth in the UK
3rd
after a stroke how many die in a year
1/3rd
polycythemia a risk for
stroke
homocysteinuria a risk for
stroke
stroke NHS budget
2%
15% of TIAs
get a stroke
to reduce your risk of stroke by 46% you need a reduction of
7.5mmHg
reducing just salt can reduce your BP by
3mmHg
PEGS and stroke
can delay
NG feeding may cause a hyperglycaemia which is worse outcomes for stroke
PEG if need it for more than 2 weeks
fever and strokes
makes it worse
even if BP is normal
stroke people will be given anti-hypertensives
main reasons for poor functional outcome are:
pneumonia
dehydration
malnutrition
over 80s dementia prevalence
20%
Causes of ‘reversible’ dementia
normal pressure hydrocephalus alcohol abuse neurosyphillis hypothyroidism vit B12 deficiency
encoding
short term memory to long term memory
alzheimers disease chromosomes
1, 14, 21
apoE4 on 19
low attenuation area
cerebral infarction
Lewy body and falls
postural hypotension
no phenothiazines for:
Lewy Body
neuromalignant syndrome
phenothiazides in lewy body.
4 risk factors for dilirium
Age >65
Cognitive impairment
Severe illness
fractured hip.
4 phases of parkinsons
Diagnostic- may last some time
Mainetenance- good for years
Complex- progression and treatment
palliative- eventually IPD progresses to end of life care.
decreased heat production
hypothyroidism hypopituitary addisons coma malnutiriton infection
increased heat loss
extensive skin disease
loss of fat
pagets
alcohol
WHO reccommend minimum indoor temp to be
18deg
ischaemia likely to happen when normal cap pressure of …. exceeded
12-32mmHg
turn patients how often (sores)
2 hourly.
sore treatment
hydrocolloid gel.