Misc Flashcards
What is a surgical third nerve palsy?
A third nerve palsy with a fixed and dilated pupil
What is a medical third nerve palsy?
A third nerve palsy that is pupil sparing
What are the symptoms of a third nerve palsy?
Ptosis
Down and out eye
What is the most common cause of a surgical third nerve palsy?
Posterior communicating artery aneurysm
What is Lambert-Eaton syndrome?
Autoimmune condition characterised by antibodies against the pre-synaptic voltage gated calcium channels
What conditions are associated with Lambert-Eton syndrome?
Small cell lung cancer
Other autoimmune diseases
What is myotonic dystrophy?
A trinucleotide repeat disorder affecting muscle-specific chloride channels
What is the inheritance of myotonic dystrohpy?
Autosomal dominant
What are the features of myotonic dystrophy?
Patient presents in their 20s
Frontal balding
Distal wasting and weakness
Slow relaxing grip
Dysarthria
What is NMO?
Neuromyelitis optica
What is the triad of NMO?
Optic neuritis
Transverse myelitis
Positive NMO-IgG - an antibody that targets aquaporin 4
Which damaged nerve can lead to foot drop?
Common peroneal nerve
What is Cushing’s triad?
Labile breathing
Bradycardia
Hypertension
What are the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy?
ABCDE
- Alcohol
- B12/folate
- Chronic renal failure
- Diabetes
- Everything else - vasculitis, paraneoplastic
What is the distribution of peripheral neuropathy?
Glove and stocking
Where is the lesion in a superior quadrantanopia?
Temporal optic radiations
Where is the lesion in an inferior quadrantantopia?
Parietal optic radiations
What are the symptoms of increased ICP?
Headache worse in the morning
Vomiting (can relieve symptoms)
Blurred vision
Behavioural changes
Reduced consciousness levels
What investigation is contraindicated in increased ICP?
Lumbar puncture
Why is lumbar puncture contraindicated in increased ICP?
Brainstem herniation
What is a positive Romberg’s sign?
When a patient becomes unsteady upon closure of their eyes when standing upright
What kind of ataxia does a positive Romberg’s sign suggest?
Sensory ataxia
What is the first line preventative treatment of migraine?
Amitryptyline or a beta blocker
What is modafinil used for?
To treat drowsiness in narcolepsy (and other conditions)
