Neuro Flashcards
Stroke definition
Syndrome rapid onset cerebral deficint lasting >24 hours or leading to death
RF ischaemic stroke
- HTN
- Smoking and alcohol
- Cholesterol
- Obesity
S+S ischaemic stroke
- FAST
- Limb weakness on opposite side infarct
- Contralateral hemiplegia/hemiparesis
- Vision loss/deficit
- HH
- Aphasia
Ix ischaemic stroke
- NCCT
- MRI
- Brachial BP
- Bloods, XR, ECG
- If CT shows hyper density = haemorrhagic
Ischaemic stroke acute Mx
- Thrombolysis within 4.5 hours onset
- IV alteplase
Ischaemic stroke long term Mx
- Antihypertensives
- Antiplatelet = long term aspirin, clopidogrel
Thrombolysis contraindications
- Recent surgery 3 months
- Recent arterial puncture
- Hx active malignancy
- Brain aneurysm
- Anticoagulation
- Liver disease or pancreatitis
Haemorrhagic stroke Mx
- Stop anticoagulants immediately =
- IV mannitol
TIA definition
- Brief episode neuro dysfunction due to temporary focal cerebral or retinal ischaemia
Carotid TIA S+S
- Amourosis fugax
- Aphasia
- Hemiparesis
- Hemisensory loss
- HH
Vertebrobasilar TIA S+S
- Diplopia, vertigo, vomiting
- Choking
- Ataxia
- Hemisensory loss
- HH
- Tetraparesis
TIA Ix
- FBC, ESR, U+E
- Carrotid doppler +/- angiography
- CT or diffuse weighted MRI
- Echo
TIA Mx
- Immediate = Aspirin 300mg then 75 after 2 weeks (or clopi)
- Statin
- If AF = anticoagulation
- Carotid endarterectomy if >70% carotid stenosis
Epilepsy definition
- Recurrent tendency to spontaneous, intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in brain
Clinical definition epilepsy
- At least 2 unprovoked seizures >24h apart
- 1 unprovoked seizure and probability of further
- Diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome
Partial/focal seizure
- Focal onset that can be referrable to single lobe
- Simple = no affect on consciousness or memory, no post ictal
- Complex = memory/awareness affected, post ictal confision
Primary generalised seizure
- Tonic
- Tonic clonic
- Clonic
- Myoclonic
- Atonic
- Absence
Temporal lobe seizure
- Aura
- Anxiety
- Automatisms = lip smacking
Frontal lobe seizure
- Motor features
0 Jacksonian march - Post ictal todds palsy
Focal seizure mx
- Lamotrigine
- Levi
Mx tonic seizure
SV or lamot
Mx myoclonic seizure
SV or levi
Mx TC seizure
SV or lamot
Mx absence seizure
SV or ethos
Mx atonic seizure
SV or lamot
Status epilepticus
- TC seizure lasting 5+ minutes
- Buccal midazolam 1st line community
- Rectal diazepam or IV lorazepam
Extradural haemorrhage characteristic
Head injury followed by brief duration unconsciousness, followed by improvement
- Young males
Extradrual haemorrhage patho
- Often due ti fractured temporal or parietal bone causing laceration of MMA
S+S extradural
- Deteriorating consciousness after head injury
- Increasingly severe headache, vomiting and fits
- Ipsilateral pupil dilates, bilateral limb weakness
Ix and mx extradural
- CT = lemon
- Clot evacuation and ligation
- anticoag/antiplatelet cessation
- IV mannitol
Subdural haemmorhage RF
- Elderly = falls, atrophy
- Shaking baby
S+S subdural
- Fluctating consciousness
- Sleepiness
- Headache
- Personality change and confusion
- Unsteadiness
- Increased ICP
- Seizures
Subdural Ix
- CT/MRI = clot +/- midline shift
- Banana on CT
Mx subdural
- Irrigation/evacuation = Burr twist
- AC/AP cessation
- IV mannitol
- IV prothrombin and Vit K
SAH aetiology
- Berry aneurysms (PCKD< ED)
- Injury
SAH S+S
- Thunderclap
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Coma/drowsiness
- Photophobia/vision changes
- Neck stiffness
- Kernig and Brudzinski
SAH Ix
- CT = star shaped
- LP if doubt CT = yellow within 12 hrs and detectable for 2 weeks
- CT angiography
SAH Mx
- Cerebral perfusion
- Nimodipine = ca agonist
- Dexamethasone
- Endovascular coiling
Migraine no aura
At least 2 of
- Unilateral pain
- Throbbing
- Moderate > severe
- Motion sensitive
and 1 of
- N/V
- Photophobia/phonophobia
Migraine with aura
- 1 or more typically fully reversible aura sx
at least 3 of - 1 aura sx spreasd gradually over 5 mins
- 2 or more aura sx in succession
- 5-60 minute aura duration
Aura Mx
- NSAID or analgesics for acute
- Triptans (avoid if IHD, HTN uncontrolled)
- Propranolol for prevention
S+S tension headache
- Bilateral non pulsing headache
- Scalp muscle tenderness
- Tight band sensations
- Pressure behind eyes
- Bursting sensations
Cluster headache S+S
- Retro orbital pain
- Tearing/lacrimation
- Swollen eyelid
- Facial flushing
- Rhinorrhoea
- Miosis and ptosis
RF cluster
- Male
FHx - Smoking
- Alcohol
Mx cluster
- Smoking cessation
- Analgesics unhelpful
- Subcut sumatriptan
- High flow oxygen (acute)
- Prevention = CCB = verapamil
RF drug overuse headache
- Analgesic medication (codeine, opiates)
- Triptans
ALS S+S (MND)
- UMN signs and LMN wasting
- Asymmetric onset
- Bab +ve
- progressive focal muscle weakness and wasting
- Fasciculations
- Increased plantar
PBL S+S (MND)
- Lower CN nuclei
- Elderly women
- Dysarthria, dysphagia, nasal regurgitation
- Fasciculation
- Emotional incontinence
- 1st affected = talking, chewing, swallowing
PMA S+S
- Pure LMN presentation = weakness, wasting, fasc
El Escorial criteria ALS
Definite = lwoer and upper in 3 regions
Probable = lowe and upper in 2
- Possible = in 1 region
- Suspected = U or LMN signs onlu in 1 or mroe
Mx MND
- Antiglutamatergic = riluzole
- NG tube
- Analgesic ladder
Triad in Parkinsons
- Tremor = at rest, may be unilateral
- Rigidity = pain, cogwheel,
- Bradykineia/hypokinesia = buttons, writing, walking, blank face
- Postural instability
- typically asymmetrical tremor