Module 4.6 Nervous System Conditions & Procedures

Question 1

Exam of a neuro compliant involves what

Answer 1

• detailed history of the complaint
• assess the pt’s mental status & memory
• cranial nerve testing
• muscle tone
• gait observation
• reflexes
• sensation
• coordination

Question 2

Define dementia

Answer 2

• progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities & memories that impairs performance of ADL’s
• caused by Alzheimer’s dementia AD, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s Disease
• all causes are not reversible & no cure
• strongest risk factor is advancing age & chances increase with each decade

Question 3

Define mini-mental state examination (MMSE)

Answer 3

• screening tool used to help with diagnosing dementia
• assesses pt’s memory, orientation, language comprehension, naming & copying

Question 4

Sx of brain tumors

Answer 4

progression of a neurological deficit, seizures, or nonspecific neurological symptoms

such as headache dementia, personality change, or gait disorder

Question 5

Define neuroma

Answer 5

tumor of nerve cells & nerve fibers

Question 6

Define astrocytoma

Answer 6

• tumor of the brain that’s made up of astrocytes
• most common primary metastatic brain tumors
• difficult to surgically remove & respond poorly to radiation

Question 7

Define oligodendroglioma

Answer 7

• malignant tumor of the nervous system
• can be more easily removed w/ surgery & better w/ chemo

Question 8

Define meningioma

Answer 8

• benign tumor of the meninges
• cured by surgical removal

Question 9

Define cerebrovascular accidents (CVA)

Answer 9

• occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted
• refers to strokes & aneurysms

Question 10

Define stroke

Answer 10

• can be hemorrhagic or ischemic

Question 11

Define hemorrhagic strokes

Answer 11

• occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures

Question 12

Define ischemic strokes

Answer 12

• occur when blood clots block the flow of blood to the brain
• either an embolism or thrombosis

Question 13

Define embolism

Answer 13

clot that travels to the brain from another area of the body

Question 14

Define thrombosis

Answer 14

clot that develops in the cerebral artery

Question 15

Define aneurysm

Answer 15

• a weakness in the blood vessel wall that is at risk for hemorrhage
• location & damage to the brain depends on the size of hemorrhage

Question 16

Define infarct

Answer 16

• area of tissue damage or death due to lack of blood supply

“time is brain”: the longer the blockage the more permanent injury

TX: reestablish blood flow to the brain ASAP by stopping the hemorrhage, removing the blood clot, reliving the compression of the artery

Question 17

Define seizure

Answer 17

episode where there is sudden, abnormal & excessive activity of the CNS leading to changes in attention and/or behavior that the pt is unable to control

Question 18

Define multiple sclerosis MS

Answer 18

• chronic disease of the CNS caused by the immune system
• characterized4 by inflammation, demyelination, then scarring of the nerves

Question 19

Define plaque

Answer 19

• damage to the myelin sheath
• develop in the neurons of the brain & spinal cord
• causes tremors, spasms, muscle weakness in the limbs, incoordination, paresthesia, visual & speech disturbances

Question 19

Define Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 19

• where the nerve cells that control movement begin to deteriorate
• decreases amt of dopamine

Question 20

Define dopamine

Answer 20

• neurotransmitter that carries nerve impulses from one neuron to another, in the brain
• associated w/ depression, cognitive impairment, dementia, sleep dysfunction
• meds used to increase amt of dopamine, control tremors, other physical sx

SX: tremor of the extremities at rest, bradykinesia, akinesia, rigid limbs, shuffling gait, stopped posture

Question 21

Define deep brain stimulation

Answer 21

• surgical procedure used to treat sx of Parkinson’s Disease when meds are no longer effective
• surgically planted device that delivers electronic stimulation to areas os brain that control movement