Neuro Flashcards
CVA stands for
Cerebrovascular accident - stroke
Types of CVA
Ischaemic, haemorrhagic
TIA management
Aspirin 300 mg daily
Specialist referral
Diffusion-weighted MRI scan
Stroke differentials
TIA, seizure, hypoglycaemia
Stroke management acute
immediate CT brain
Alteplase within 4.5 hrs if no haemorrhage
Thrombectomy cansidered within 24 hrs
Ischaemic stroke - keep high BP
Haemorrhagic - treat high BP
Stroke management long term
Assess for underlying cause e.g. Afib
Anticoagulation after finishing two weeks of aspirin, with Afib.
MDT rehab
Presentation intracranial haemorrhage
Sudden onset headache, seizure, vomiting, reduced LOC, focal neurological symptoms
GCS
Eyes, verbal, motor
Extradural haemorrhage blood vessel
MMA, often temporal bone fracture.
Subdural haemorrhage blood vessel
Bridging veins, elderly & alcoholic
Intracerebral Haemorrhage
Bleeding in the brain tissue, similar presentation to ischaemic stroke.
Aneurysm rupture, secondary to ischaemic stroke, tumours.
Subarachnoid haemorrhage bleed into
Subarachnoid space where CSF is - thunder clap headache
Usually cerebral aneurysm rupture
Intracerebral haemorrhage management
CT head
Bloods - include coagulation screen - correct any clotting abnormality
Correct severe hypertension but avoid hypotension
Presentation subarachnoid haemorrhage
Thunderclap headache - often when strenuous activity.
Neck stiffness, photophobia, vomiting, neurological symptoms
Subarachnoid haemorrhage investigations
CT head (less reliable after 6 hrs from symptoms starting)
Lumbar puncture if normal CT head - red cells in CSF
CT angiography - locate source of bleeding
Subarachnoid haemorrhage management
surgical intervention - endovascular coiling
Intubation & ventilation
MS pathology
Autoimmune demyelination of CNS
MS caused by
Low vit D, ebstein barr virus, smoking, obesity
optic neuritis
most common presentation of MS.
Unilateral reduced vision, developing over hours to days
Most common presentation MS
Optic neuritis
Ataxia can be (2)
Problem with coordinated movement
- Sensory - loss of proprioception
- Cerebellar
MS management
Disease modifying therapy - target immune system
Relapses - steroids
MDT
Motor neurone disease
Progressive disease affecting motor neurons. Eventually fatal. No effect on sensation.
Motor neurone disease presentation
Insidious progressive weakness of muscles throughout body. Often first noticed upper limbs. Dysarthria.
Diagnosis carefully after excluding other conditions - no effective treatments.
Parkinsons pathology
reduction in dopamine in the basal ganglia
Parkinsons presentation
Resting tremor
Rigidity
Bradykinesia
Shuffling gait
Gradual onset symptoms - asymmetrical one side affected more
Dementia associated with parkinsons
Lewy body
Also has visual hallucinations, delusions, REM sleep disorders, fluctuating consciousness
Parkinsons management
Levodopa + carbidopa, Dopamine agonists
Levodopa side effect
Dyskinesia - abnormal movements
- chorea
- athetosis
- dystonia