Neuorsurgery Flashcards
Fluctuating confusion/conciousness?
Subdural haematoma
Common complication of subarachnoid haemorrhages?
Hyponatraemia
-SAH leads to SIADH which causes hyponatraemia and N/V + reduced consciousness
SAH is defined as what?
Presence of blood within the SA space
1st line INvgX for SAH?
Non-contrast CT head
CT head within 1 hour criteria?
-GCS <13 initially
-GCS<15 2 hours post-injury
-Sus open or depressed skull fracture
-Any sign of basal skull fracture
-Post traumatic seizure
-Focal neurological deficit
-More than 1 episode of vomiting
Hyperattenuation in crescent shape?
Subdural haemorrhage
Shape of an extradural haematoma?
Convex shaped cerebral haemorrhage
Common cause of extradural haemorrhage?
Fracture of pterion
Presentation of an infant with hydrocpehalus?
Increased head circumference
Bulging fontanelle
Sunsetting of eyes
Impaired upward gaze
Extradural haemorrhage features?
Lucid period
usually follows major head trauma
Artery commonly affected in extradural haemorrhage?
Middle meningeal artery
Contrast or non-contrast for CT for SAH?
Non-contrast
-Blood is hyperdense because of high electron density and therefore lights up
CT scan is best for what type of injury?
Bony
Extradural haematoma on CT scan?
Bi-convex extra-axial hyperdense collection
If patient is hypertensive and bradycardic what is likely?
Coning: ie a brain issue
“Fast and weak, there’s a leak. Slow and strong something in the head is wrong”
