neuro Flashcards
CN I
olfactory - smell
CN II
optic - vision
CN III
oculomotor (most EOMs, eyelid opening, pupil constriction)
CN IV
trochlear - down/inward eye movement
CN V
trigeminal (mastication, sensation: face, scalp, cornea, mucus membranes, nose)
CN VI
abducens - lateral eye movement
CN VII
facial (move face, close mouth/eyes, taste (anterior 2/3), saliva/tear secretion)
CN VIII
acoustic - hearing/equilibrium
CN IX
glossopharyngeal (phonation, gag reflex, carotid reflex, swallowing, posterior taste)
CN X
vagus (talking, swallowing, carotid body sensation, carotid reflex)
CN XI
spinal accessory (trapezius & sternomastoid movement ie shrugging)
CN XII
hypoglossal - tongue movement
which CN: gag reflex
IX - glossopharyngeal
which CN: pupil constriction
III - oculomotor
which CN: shoulder shrug
XI - spinal accessory
CN type mnemonic
Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More
CN name mnemonic
On Old Olympus’ Towering Tops A Fin And German Viewed Some Hops
which CN: make eyes do tricks
III, IV, VI
which CN: pure sensory
I, II, VII
which CN: puff cheeks
VII
which CN: hearing
VIII
which CN: seeing
II
which CN: smelling
I
which CN: raspberry
XII
Mental Status Assessment (or MMSE): scoring x4
30 max
24-30 (no cognitive impairment, 27 avg)
18-23 (delirium/dementia)
0-7 (severe impairment)
TIA definition *
transient ischemic attack
- acute cerebral insufficiency
- resolves in 3 hours
purpose of Mental Status Assessment
discern cognitive impairments
TIA causes x2
- ischemia d/t atherosclerosis, thrombus, arterial occlusion, embolus, intracerebral hemorrhage
- cardio-embolic events: a fib, acute MI, endocarditis, valve disease
TIA indicative of
impending stroke
? TIA pts will experience cerebral infarction w/in 5 years
1/3
TIA: 2 classic sx *
altered vision: amaurosis fugax (ipsilateral monocular blindness)
motor impairment: paresthesia in CONTRALATERAL arm, leg, face
TIA: s/s x8
- altered vision (amaurosis fugax)
- motor impairment (contralateral paresthesia)
- aphasia
- dysphagia
- vertigo
- nystagmus
- sensory deficits
- cognitive/behavioral abnormalities
(and more)
amaurosis fugax is
painless, transient, monocular loss of vision d/t retinal ischemia
- think: TIA
aphasia *
loss of language comprehension/production d/t data processing deficit
agnosia
failure to recognize form/nature of objects (pattern recognition defect)
agnOsia - Objects
apraxia
impaired performance of skilled/purposeful movement
agraphia
inability to write
dysarthria *
difficulty articulating words r/t motor impairment
hemianopia
defective vision in half of visual field
hemiparesis *
partial paralysis with incomplete loss of muscle power on ONE (entire) side - WEAKNESS
vertebrobasilar TIA cause *
inadequate blood flow from vertebral arteries
carotid TIA cause *
carotid stenosis
vertebrobasilar TIA: presentation x6 *
vertigo, dizziness ataxia confusion visual field deficits weakness
ataxia *
uncoordinated voluntary movements
carotid TIA: presentation x5 *
aphasia
dysarthria
altered LOC
weakness, numbness
priority diagnostic test to order in suspected TIA
CT - distinguishes between ischemia, hemorrhage, tumor
TIA: labs + diagnostics x5
CT MRI echo carotid doppler/US CTA
CT or MRI: superior for detecting ischemic infarcts
MRI
TIA mgmt x5
- aspirin
- clopidogrel/Plavix 75 mg qd PO
- ticlopidine (Ticlid)
- hypertension assessment
- carotid endarterectomy
why aspirin in TIA?
reduces CVA incidence, death
ticlopidine (Ticlid) AE considerations
associated with agranulocytosis, thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura, GI intolerance
why hypertension assessment in TIA?
1 cause of heart failure
why carotid endarterectomy in TIA?
decreases risk of stroke, death in pt with recent TIA
when is carotid endarterectomy indicated? *
> 70 - 80% vascular stenosis in symptomatic patients
What is the strongest indicator of functional impairment at discharge? *
Cognitive impairment
Most important aspect in assessing mental status
orientation
Gold standard diagnostic for TIA
non-contrast head CT
Patient is asymptomatic but a carotid bruit is present on physical examination. What is the next step in the plan of care?
Order carotid doppler/ultrasound
Patient presents with L hand tingling and carotid Doppler revealed 90% occlusion of both carotids. What is the next step in the plan of care?
Carotid endarectomy of the right carotid first
What is the number one cause of heart failure
HTN
When do most TIAs resolve
around 3 hours
CVA
Rapid onset of neurological deficits lasting longer than 24 hrs
CVA causes
aneurysm atherosclerosis AVM HTN (chronic) trauma tumor
describe the progression of CVA infarct presentation
subtle progressive or sudden neurological deficits
ischemic - gt 80% of CVAs
ischemic CVA s/s
LOC changes motor weakness paralysis visual changes vital sign changes
describe the progression of hemorrhagic CVA presentation
acute onset of focal neurological deficits
15-20% of CVAs
hemorrhagic CVA s/s x11
headache, sudden ↑ ICP, AMS, vomiting (when hemorrhage extensive)
L (dominant) hemisphere: R hemiparesis, aphasia, dysarthria, difficulty reading/writing
R (nondominant) hemisphere: L hemiparesis, R visual changes, spatial disorientation
What s/s do you see with an MCA infarct?
hemiplegia
deviation of eyes towards the lesion
s/s specific to hemorrhagic CVA in L hemisphere
R hemiparesis
aphasia
dysarthria
difficulty reading/writing
s/s specific to hemorrhagic CVA in R hemisphere
L hemiparesis
spatial disorientation
right visual field changes
In which hemisphere would a CVA be occurring if patient presented with right visual changes; left hemiparesis and spatial disorientation?
R (nondominant) hemisphere
In a L hemisphere CVA is aphasia an expected finding? What else?
yes
R hemiparesis
dysarthria
difficulty reading/writing
A 54 yo F suddenly falls out at church. What CVA do you expect?
hemorrhagic
gold standard CVA diagnostic
non-contrast head CT
CVA diagnostics
non-contrast head CT
CTA
LP (only if grade I or II aneurysm)
What must be obtained before LP?
non-contrast head CT
LP: contraindication + why?
large brain bleed
- brain stem herniation can be induced d/t rapid decompression of subarachnoid space
CVA: mgmt x8
- thrombotic: fibrinolytics lt 3 - 4.5 hrs of sx onset
- surgical evacuation
- ↓ BP (monitor for cerebral ischemia) + avoid hypotension (exacerbates ischemic deficits)
- ↓ ICP
- MAP 110-130 (tx cerebral vasospasm)
- intravascular vol replacement + hypertensive tx (↑ CPP, blood flow, O2 delivery)
- nimodipine (Nimotop)
OVERALL GOALS: maintain CPP + limit ↑ ICP
CVA mgmt: goal MAP & why
110 - 130 mmHg
- treat cerebral vasospasm
CVA mgmt: cerebral vasospasms x2
MAP 110 - 130 mmHg
nimodipine (Nimotop) calcium channel blocker
CVA mgmt: how to ↑ CPP x2
intravascular volume replacement
hypertensive therapy
(also increases blood flow & O2 delivery)
window for tPA in CVA management
less than 3-4.5 hrs since onset of symptoms
What increases ICP in CVA?
hypotension
hypoxemia
hypercapnia
45 yo. M s/p CVA is intubated on the ventilator. Most recent ABGs read: pH 7.48/pCO2 35/pO2 60 with FiO2 40%. What is your next step?
leave pCO2 at 35
What is the function of the lateral rectus muscle?
Moves eyes sideways and back
MOA of nimodipine (Nimotop) *
prevent calcium from entering smooth muscles cells and causing contraction
(use for CVA
seizure
paroxysmal event resulting from abnormal electrical activity in cerebral neurons
simple partial seizure: presentation x 6
rarely gt 1 minute
** no LOC **
parasthesia, flashing lights, hallucinations
motor symptoms start in one muscle group and spread to entire side of body
note: common with cerebral lesions
complex partial seizure: what & presentation x3
simple partial seizure followed by ** impaired LOC **
automatisms
aura
staring into space
generalized seizure: absence
- aka
- presentation x 3
aka petite mal
sudden arrest of motor activity + blank stare + begin/end suddenly
generalized seizure: tonic clonic
- aka
- presentation x 5
aka grand mal
tonic contractions + LOC, then…
clonic contractions
incontinence possible
lasts 2 - 5 min,
followed by postictal
status epilepticus is…
series of tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures 10+ min duration
- can occur when awake or asleep BUT consciousness not regained between attacks
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
- most uncommon & most life-threatening
seizure assessment: most important questions x3
loss of consciousness
duration
neuro changes after?
seizures: diagnostics
assessment (seven dimensions + description) EEG (most important test) CT head (indicated for all new onset seizures)