Medicine - Neurology Flashcards
define a TIA
transient neurological dysfunction secondary to ischaemia without infarction
what is a crescendo TIA?
2 or more TIAs within a week
features of stroke?
typically sudden onset:- limb weakness - facial weakness - dysphasia - visual / sensory loss
risk factors for stroke?
NAME?
what is the ROSIER tool for? what is a significant score?
- recognition of stroke in the emergency room| - anything above 0
what is the ABCD2 score used for?
to calculate risk of subsequent stroke in patients with suspected TIA
what are the components of ABCD2?
NAME?
immediate management steps for a suspected stroke?
- admit to specialist stroke unit- exclude hypoglycaemia- CT head to rule out haemorrhage - aspirin 300mg to be continued for 2 weeks
what can be offered immediately after a CT head has ruled out an intracranial haemorrhage in suspected stroke? hint: within 4.5h
- thrombolysis| - done with alteplase
what is the window for thrombolysis?
4.5 hours
what is done following thrombolysis?
repeat CT heads to check for complications (e.g. haemorrhage)
should HTN be controlled at the time of a stroke?
- no| - the extra perfusion keeps brain tissue alive
management of TIA?
- aspirin 300mg daily for 2 weeks- then lifelong clopidogrel - start secondary prevention of CVD- get ABCD2 score- diffusion-weighted MRI (gold standard)- carotid USS (look for stenosis, offer endarterectomy if present)
how is the ABCD2 score interpreted?
- 3 or less = specialist assessment within a week| - >3 = specialist assessment within 24h
secondary prevention of stroke?
- clopidogrel 75mg daily- atorvastatin 80mg (after 2 weeks)- endarterectomy for carotid stenosis- treat modifiable RFs (e.g. DM) - offer rehabilitation
what % of strokes are intracranial bleeds?
10-20%
risk factors for an intracranial bleed?
NAME?
presentation of intracranial bleed?
NAME?
how is GCS interpreted?
8 or less = consider intubation
motor scoring in GCS?
NAME?
verbal scoring in GCS?
NAME?
eye opening scoring in GCS?
NAME?
pathophysiology of subdural haemorrhage?
- rupture of bridging veins| - between dura mater and arachnoid mater
SDH appearance on CT?
- crescent (moon) shaped| - crosses suture lines
which patient demographics are more affected by SDH?
- elderly| - alcoholics
pathophysiology of an extradural haemorrhage?
NAME?
appearance of EDH on CT?
- biconvex (lens) shaped| - does not cross suture lines
typical history of EDH?
NAME?
where can an intracerebral bleed occur?
NAME?
management of intracranial bleeds?
NAME?
pathophysiology of a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
NAME?
features of SAH?
- sudden onset occipital “thunderclap” headache- neck stiffness- photophobia- neuro changes (vision, speech, weakness, seizures, LOC)
risk factors for SAH?
NAME?
which other medical conditions are associated with SAH?
- HTN- sickle cell anaemia- marfan’s syndrome- ehlers-danlos syndrome- neurofibromatosis
appearance of SAH on CT?
- star-shaped hyperattenuation| - if normal, does NOT rule out SAH
investigations for SAH?
NAME?
findings on LP in SAH?
- raised RBC| - xanthochromia
management of SAH?
NAME?
typical demographic affected by MS?
white women <50
when might symptoms improve in MS?
- during pregnancy| - postpartum
describe the pathophysiology of MS
oligodendrocytes of the CNS end up demyelinated
how are the lesions in MS described?
- white matter plaques| - disseminated in space and time
how can MS be classified?
NAME?
when might symptoms worsen in MS? what is this called?
- heat - exercise- uhthoff’s phenomenon
presentation of MS?
lots of different presentations: - unilateral vision loss (optic neuritis, most common)- double vision (internuclear ophthalmoplegia, conjugate gaze disorder, CN6-related)- focal weakness - focal sensory symptoms- ataxia (sensory or cerebellar)
examples of focal weakness seen in MS?
- bells palsy- horner’s synrome- limb paralysis- incontinence
examples of focal sensory symptoms seen in MS?
- trigeminal neuralgia- numbness- parasthesia- lhermitte’s sign
describe lhermitte’s sign. which condition is this seen in?
NAME?
sign O/E of sensory ataxia?
positive romberg’s test
after the first presentation of demyelination, what determines progression to MS?
- presence of lesions on MRI = high risk of MS| - if no further episodes, this is called “clinically isolated syndrome”
how is MS diagnosed?
NAME?
potential causes of MS?
true cause unknown but the following might contribute:- certain genes- EBV- low vit D (lowest rates at equator)- smoking- obesity
causes of optic neuritis?
NAME?