Neuro Flashcards
How does MND present on nerve conduction studies?
Normal motor conduction
What are adverse side effects of phenytoin?
Acute: dizziness, visual changes, slurred speech, seizures
Chronic: gingival hyperplasia, drowsiness, megaloblastic anaemia, peripheral neuropathy, lymphadenopathy
Teratogenic: associated with cleft palate and congenital heart disease
How do the pattern of signs present in GBS?
Flaccid weakness with hyporeflexia
What is the management of autonomic dysreflexia?
Remove stimulus (distended bowel/bladder) and treat lift-threatening complications e.g. bradycardia
reduced GCS, paralysis and bilateral pin point pupils suggests what?
Pontine haemorrhage
Patient with new onset stroke?
Admit to hospital for urgent CT head -> ?stroke assessment
What should be considered when starting someone on phenytoin?
Cardiac monitoring due to arrhythmogenic effects
What is a common side effect of triptans?
Tightness of the chest and throat
clonic movements travelling proximally suggests what?
Jacksonian march - frontal lobe epilepsy
What is the most common complication of meningitis?
Sensorineural hearing loss
What is the management of headache linked to valsalva manoeuvres?
Raised ICP until proven otherwise so needs CT
Management of seizures?
Rectal diazepam
What is used to treat idiopathic intracranial HTN?
- Weight loss
- Acetazolamide
Ipsilateral oculomotor palsy and contralateral weakness of the upper and lower extremity
Posterior cerebral artery
What is the mode of action of ondansetron?
Selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist which acts in the medulla oblongata
Subdural vs extradural?
Subdural will have fluctuating consciousness
patients with dangerous mechanism of injury, including falling more than 1 metre or from a height of 5 stairs or more require what?
CT head within 8 hours
criteria for CT head within 1 hour?
GCS < 13 on initial assessment
GCS < 15 at 2 hours post-injury
suspected open or depressed skull fracture
any sign of basal skull fracture (haemotympanum, ‘panda’ eyes, cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the ear or nose, Battle’s sign).
post-traumatic seizure.
focal neurological deficit.
more than 1 episode of vomiting
CSF findings for SAH?
- Normal or raised opening pressure
- Xanthochromia
criteria for CT head within 8 hours?
age 65 years or older
any history of bleeding or clotting disorders including anticogulants
dangerous mechanism of injury (a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a motor vehicle, an occupant ejected from a motor vehicle or a fall from a height of greater than 1 metre or 5 stairs)
more than 30 minutes’ retrograde amnesia of events immediately before the head injury
Idiopathic vs drug induced Parkinsons
Idiopathic - asymmetrical symptoms
Drug induced - symmetrical
Seizures vs syncopal episodes
Syncopal episodes - rapid recovery and short post ictal period
Sudden onset vertigo and vomiting, facial paralysis and sensorineural deafness - which artery
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
Progressive supranuclear palsy vs multiple system atrophy?
PSP will have an upward gaze impairment
What is a patient with alcoholism at risk of?
Subdural haematoma
pain, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, trigeminal nerve lesion and Horner’s?
Cavernous sinus syndrome
Cerebral Herniation can cause what?
Third nerve palsy: eye down and out with dilated pupil
What are the signs of lateral medullar syndrome/PICA stroke?
- Ipsilateral facial pain and loss of temperature
- Contralateral loss of limb and torso pain/temperature
- Ipsilateral Horners syndrome
Which anticoagulant is used for prophylaxis post TIA?
Lifelong clopidogrel
What visual features will be present in a patient with IIH?
- Blurred vision
- Papilledema
- Enlarged blind spot
What imaging is used to diagnose carotid artery stenosis?
Duplex US
What drug should be avoided in patients with myasthenia gravis?
Bisoprolol
Ventriculomegaly without sulcal enlargement suggests what?
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
What is the response that can occur following raised ICP?
Cushings reflex - hypertension and bradycardia with wide pulse pressure
Which opiate should be used if standard neuropathic medications are not working?
Tramadol
Which Parkinsons medication is linked with impulse control disorders?
Dopamine agonists
Which anaesthetic agent would someone with MG be resistant to?
NMBDs e.g suxamethonium
reduced GCS, paralysis and bilateral pin point pupils suggests what?
Pontine haemorrhage
Fluent speech, comprehension intact but poor repetition?
Conduction dysphasia
Gait ataxia is caused by what?
Cerebellar vermis lesions
Which drugs are associated with IIH?
A - Vit A and metabolites
L - Lithium/Levothyroxine
O - OCP
S - Steroids
T - Tetracycline
C - Cimetidine
What is a very common early symptom of MS?
Lethargy
What is associated with autonomic dysreflexia?
Stroke
Which cranial nerves are affected in acoustic neuromas?
5,7,8
What is the sensory loss in syringomyelia?
Spinothalamic - pain and temperature
How long can cluster headaches last?
15 mins - 2 hours
Muscle wasting of hands, numbness and tinging with autonomic symptoms suggests what?
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Which anti-epileptic drug can cause weight gain?
Sodium valproate
What is paroxysmal hemicrania?
- Unilateral headache in the orbital/temporal region
- Similar to cluster headaches
- Responsive to indomethacin
Which anti epileptic medication can cause numbness of fingers and feet?
Phenytoin
Empty delta sign on venography suggests what?
Sagittal sinus thrombosis
Vision worse on going down the stairs?
4th nerve palsy
What can be done in patients with raised ICP?
Hyperventilation to reduce blood CO2 to induce cerebral vasoconstriction
What can be used to differentiate between a seizures and a pseudo seizure?
Prolactin
What is the eye examination signs for 3rd nerve palsy?
Ptosis + dilated pupil + absent light reflex with intact consensual constriction
Where is the most common cause of obstructive hydrocephalus?
Cerebral aqueduct stenosis
Which anti-epileptic drug causes weight loss, renal stones and cognitive and behaviour changes?
Topiramate
sudden and severe back pain, followed immediately by rapidly progressive bilateral flaccid limb weakness and loss of sensation, particularly for pain and temperature?
Spinal cord infarction
What is the management of stroke in patients <60 with severe symptoms and atleast 50% infarct of MCA on CT?
Decompressive hemicraniectomy
What is the most common cause of third nerve palsy?
Diabetes
What causes painful third nerve palsy?
Posterior communicating artery aneurysm
What is the gold standard investigation for venous sinus thrombosis?
MR venogram
What is the triad for lewy-body dementia?
fluctuating cognition, parkinsonism and visual hallucinations