Geries Flashcards
What is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo characterized by
sudden onset dizziness and vertigo triggered by changes in head position
How long do the BPPV episodes last
10/20 seconds
How is BPPV diagnosed and explain this method 1
positive Dix Hallpike manouevre: have the patient sit up and hold their head 45 degrees in one direction. Quickly lower them down to supine and ensure their head dips to 30 degrees past the couch and observe for 30 seconds for nystagmus. This should be repeated for the other side too. Positive test is pt experiences vertigo on this test (rotary nystagmus may or may not be seen but is not a necessary factor)
How is BPPV managed? 4
- usually spontaneous resolves
- Epley manouevre
- teaching pts exercises for vestibular rehabilitation eg Brandt Daroff exercises
- medication betahistamine can be given but does not always work
What indicates delirium over dementia 3
- acute onset
- fluctuation of symptoms eg worse at night
- abnormal perceptions eg illusions/ delusions
What are the causes of delirium 8
PINCH ME
pain
infection (UTI/ pneumonia )
nutrition (low)
constipation
hydration (low)
medication (eg benzos)
environment + electrolytic
What are the features of delirium 5
disordered thinking
clouded consciousness/ cognition
can have visual complex hallucinations
less than 6 months
disturbed sleep wake cycle
(DLC)
What are the types of delirium 3 and explain each
hyperactive: agitation with hallucinations
hypoactive: withdrawn plus reduced GCS
mixed
What are the investigations for delirium 5
- bloods: FBC, U&E, TFTs, LFTs, glucose, blood cultures
- ECG
- consider urine dip + MSU (dip not sensitve over 65 so send straight for a MSU)
- sputum culture/ CXR
- screening with 4 AT
What is 4AT screening for and explain it
delirium
- alertness
- AMT4 (abbreviated mental test: age, dob, name, place)
- attention (states months in reverse order)
- acute (whether this is a recent change of mental state in the past 2 weeks)
What is the management for delirium
to orient:
reduce noise, have same staff, family visitors
agitation:
verbally calm, then IM haloperidol
What medications can trigger delirium 5
TCA
opiates
steroids
levodopa
alcohol/ substance withdrawl
What investigations must be done after an elderly fall
Bedside tests: BP, blood glucose, urine dip, ECG
Bloods: FBC, UE, LFT, bone profile
Imaging: x-ray of injured limbs, CT head if hit head
4 4 2
What are the NICE guidelines for those with a falls history or at falls risk 3
- assess gait + balance: do turn 180 test or timed up and go test
- multidisciplinary assessment for patients over 65 with 2+ falls in past year with either of them requiring medical treatment and poor results in 1. test
- if they do not meet the criteria for a multidisciplinary treatment then annual review
name some risk factors for falling
- polypharmacy
- vision problems
- MSK- gait disturbances eg parkinsons/ lower limb weakness
- postural hypotension (ACEi/ beta blockers/ CCB)
What medications can increase the risk of falls 5
- nitrates (due to postural hypotension)
- beta blockers (due to postural hypotension)
- opiates
- ACE inhibitors (due to postural hypotension)
- antidepressants (due to postural hypotension)/ antipsychotics
What is the score for osteoporosis
T >-2.5 on Dexa Scan
What is dementia
progressive decline in cognitive function in alert pts for over 6 months
What are the two subcategories of dementia and examples for each 4, 3
cortical: grey matter
alzheimers (mc- 60%)
frontotemporal
vascular
lewy body
subcortical: white matter
parkinson
huntington
alcohol related dementia
What is the pathophysiology of Alzheimers
beta amyloid plaques
(tau protein neurofibrillary tangles) widespread in cortex
axon damage and decreased Acetylcholine transmission
What are the symptoms of alzheimers
4 As
aphasia
agnosia (familiar objects/ voices)
amnesia in gradual decline
apraxia
What is the pathophys of vascular dementia and symptoms
stroke leading to cortical infarct
same 4 As of alzheimers but more severe in a stepwise decline
What is the pathophys of lewy body dementia
deposits of proteins (lewy body) in basal ganglia and cortex
What are the symptoms of lewy body dementia 4 and the triad
- REM sleep disorder
- vivid visual hallucinations
- parkinsoniam after neuro sx
- fluctuating consciousness + cognition
cognitive fluctaution
parkinsonism
hallucinations
What is the pathophys of frontotemporal dementia and symptoms
pick body deposition in frontal and temporal lobes
frontal: apathy, mood disorder, decreased executive function eg sleep, hyperphagia)
temporal: trouble with grammer
What can be a precursor to dementia
MCI (mild cognitive impairment)
What are the investigations for dementia 5
- 10-CS cognitive questionnaire (involves orientation questions (year, month, date) and animal naming task) 6–7 indicates possible cognitive impairment, and 0–5 indicates probable cognitive impairment (lower the score, the more concerning)
- bloods to rule out other causes: FBC, U&E, LFTs, calcium, glucose, ESR/CRP, TFTs, vitamin B12 and folate levels
- MRI head
- SPECT for FTD, alzheimers and LBD (LBD= 2 dots for basal ganglia
- Alzheimers measure amyloid beta and tau protein in CSF
What are the results of the 4 dementia types in MRI head
alzheimers: diffuse cortical and hippocampal atrophy, sucal widening and increased size of ventricles (micro level= tau + beta amyloid plaques + decreased ach axons)
FTD: F+T deposits and atrophy (micro level= pick bodies- U+Tau proteins)
Vascular: 1+ white cortical infarct- extensive white infarcts
Lewy body dementia: cortical deposits with basal ganglia deposits or normal (micro level= U + alpha S proteins)
What is the treatment for dementia types
alzheimers:
1. ACHase inhibitors eg rivastigmine/ donepezil
2. NDMA eg memantine (but side effects dizziness, headaches, SOB)
FTD: SSRI, antipsych
vascular: statins and aspirin to reduce vascular risk factors
lewy body: ACHase inhibitors eg like alzheimers
What medications should not be given in certain types of dementia and why (2)
never give antipsychotics to alzheimers due to increase risk of death
never give ACHase inhibitors to FTD pts as this worsens their sx
What are the features of pseudodementia 4
pseudodementia= treatable conditions that mimic dementia- MC is depressed pt
replied to questions with ‘i dont know’
normal MMSE
typically with recent bereavement
What is postural hypotenstion
10mmHg diastolic drop in BP sitting to standing which is not resolved in 3 mins OR 20+mmHS systolic
What is the pathophysiology of postural hypotension
impaired neuro-cardiac baroreceptors reflex
What are the causes of postural hypotension 6
CV: HF, MI, AF
Neuro: parkinsons
iatrogenic: BP lowering meds eg CCB/ ACEi/ diuretics
other: addisons
investigations for postural hypotension 3
- lying and standing blood pressure
- ECG
- review meds
What is the management for postural hypotension and any SEs
- conservative= increase water intake and stand up slow
- off licence meds= fludrocortisone (mineralocorticoid) but SE of fluid retention/ oedema
What are the types of incontinence and explain what causes each
Stress Incontinence: weak pelvic floor and sphincter muscles (linked with previous pregnancies)
Urge Incontinence: overactivity of detrusor muscle of bladder
Mixed incontinence: combination of stress and urge incontinence
What are the investigations for incontinence 4
- bladder diaries should be completed for a minimum of 3 days
- vaginal examination to exclude pelvic organ prolapse and ability to initiate voluntary contraction of pelvic floor muscles (‘Kegel’ exercises)
- urine dipstick and culture
- urodynamic studies
What is the management for incontinence 1,3,3
lifestyle: weight loss, smoking cessation, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake
for urge incontinence
1. refer for bladder retraining (gradually increasing the intervals between voiding over 6 weeks)
2. medications
-> first line oxybutynin (muscarinic) NOT FOR ELDERLY (rfx falls)
-> mirabegron (beta 3 agonist- bladder relaxant) NOT FOR HTN pts
3. botox for cases that have not responded to two meds
for stress incontinence:
1. referral for pelvic floor muscle trains (8 contractions performed 3 x daily for 3 months)
2. duloxetine (increases muscle tone of urethra for women who do not want surgery)
3. surgical management
for mixed- treat the most dominant incontinence type
What is the definition of malnutrition according to NICE 3
- BMI of 18.5 or less
- unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last 3-6 months; or
- a BMI of less than 20 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last 3-6 months
2 or more of the above
How is malnutrition screened?
MUST score involves:
BMI, recent weight loss, acute disease
to calculate overall risk of malnutrition
if low risk (0), no action
medium risk (1), observe
high risk (2+), commence nutritional care pathway starting with food/ food supplement eg fortisip trial for 4 weeks then calculate MUST score again. BUT BE CAREFUL OF REFEEDING SYNDROME
Define hypothermia and 3 stages with features
Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of <35°C and is classified as follows:
mild (32°C to 35°C): characterised by tachycardia, tachypnoea, vasoconstriction and shivering
moderate (28°C to 32°C): may have cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, respiratory depression, reduced consciousness and may cease to shiver
severe (<28°C): markedly reduced consciousness/coma, apnoea, arrhythmia, fixed and dilated pupils