Neuro Flashcards
Causes of sudden Vs Gradual onset neural symptoms
Sudden
- Cerebrovascular event
- Space occupying lesion
- Frontotemporal dementia
Features of temporal lobe lesion
Receptive aphasia (difficulty with comprehension - Wernickes) Contralateral upper quadranopia (piTS)
Altered auditory/visual perception
Altered personality/sexual behaviour
long term memory impaired
Features of a Frontal lobe lesion
Change in personality
Anosmia (lost smell)
Expressive aphasia (Brocas, broken words)
Contralateral hemiparesis
Features of Parietal lesion
Hemiparesis
Decreased 2-point discrimination
Astereogenesis (cant recognise object in hand)
Sensory inattention (e.g. will only draw half clock face
Gerstmann Syndrome
- Site of lesion
- 4 symptoms
Lesions near the temporal and parietal lobe junction
Dysgraphia (lost ability to write)
Dyscalculia (cant do maths)
Finger agnosia (cant distinguish fingers on hand)
Left-right disorientation
Features of occipital lesion
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Features of midbrain lesion
Short term amnesia
Confabulation
Strong desire to sleep
What can cause a cerebellar lesion?
Pres?
Cerebrovascular event
SOL
Infection
Wernicke’s
DANISH (Dysdiadokinesia - hand turn, Ataxia, Nystagmus, Intention tremor, Slurred speech, Hypotonia/Heel-toe
Which tumour is seen in cerebellar pontine angle?
How can it present?
Acoustic neuroma
Ipsilateral deafness, Tinnitus, Facial/ trigeminal palsy (Facial numb/weakness)
Vision for:
1) Optic nerve lesion
2) Optic chiasm (central) lesion
3) Prechiasmal lesion
4) Optic tract lesion
Blindness on affected side
Bitemporal vision loss
Homonymous hemianopia of contralateral side of vision to lesion (3/4)
GCS
EVM 456
Best eye movement (out of 4)
Best verbal response (out of 5)
Best motor response (out of 6)
Headache Red Flags
New/change in pattern (if over 50)
Seizure
Systemic ill (fever, malaise, weight loss)
Personality change
Acute onset worst ever headache
Scalp tender jaw claud
Focal signs
Raised ICP (vomiting)
Meningism triad
Headache
Photophobia
Nuchal rigidity
Meningitis RF
CSF shunts Spinal anaesthetic DM Alcohol IVDU Crowding
Meningitis organism
Viral: mumps, HSV
Bacterial:
- neonate: GBS
- children: H.influenza b
- adults: Strep pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Hib
Non infective causes meningitis
Malignancy
Sarcoidosis
SLE
Meningitis pres
Meningism Triad (headache, photophobia, nuchal rigid)
Opisthotonos (arching back)
Altered mental state
If Bacteraemia (purpuric rash)
Meningitis Ix
LP - gram stain, Ziehl nelson, glucose, protein, culture
Blood: FBC, Glucose, U&E, culture
Raised ICP symptoms
Vomiting
Reduced consciousness
Headache
Fits
CSF Bacterial meningitis
- Opening pressure
- Appearance
- Predominant cell type
- Protein
- Glucose
High pressure
Turbid
Neutrophils
Protein high
Glucose low
CSF Viral meningitis
- Opening pressure
- Appearance
- Predominant cell type
- Protein
- Glucose
High pressure
Clear
Mononucelar lymphocytes
High/Normal protein
Normal Glucose
TB LP
- Opening pressure
- Appearance
- Predominant cell type
- Protein
- Glucose
High
turbid (fibrin web)
Mononuclear lymphocytes
Very High protein
Low gulcose
Lumbar puncture contraindications
Raised ICP (focal neurology, bradycardia, hypertension, GCS under 9)
COag abnormlities
LP complications
Postpunctural headache
Infection
Bleeding
Cerebral herniation (if high ICP)
Meningitis management
Fluids, antipyretic, antiemetic
Viral - acyclovir
Bacterial IV ceftriaxone (add vancomycin if penucoccla)
Community Abx for meningitis
Benzylpenicillin
Meningitis complications
Sepsis/septic shock DIC Seizures Coma Raised ICP SIADH Deafness
Meningitis prevention
Vaccination (Hib, Neisseria, S.Pneum)
Ciprofloxacin to contacts (prophylaxis
Usual organism for meningococcal septicaemia?
Describe the organism..
Neisseria meningitidis
Gram -ve diplococci
Meningococcal septicaemia Presentation
Non-blanching petechial rash
Meningism
Septic (cold periph, cap refill over 2s, hypotensive)
Give IV/IM Benpen if suspected
Meningococcal septicaemia investigations
FBC: low Pts
Blood cultures
LP
Pharyngeal swab
Meningococcal septicaemia management in hospital
<3months - cefotaxime + amoxicillin >3 months - ceftriaxone
Resuscitation if needed
Suspected Meningococcal septicaemia community management
IV/IM Benzylpenicillin
Prevention of meningococcus
Ciprofloaxcin ± menigicoccal vaccine prophylaxis (esp for uni student)
Encephalitis
- What is
- Common cause
- Pres
- Pres in neonate
Inflammation of brain parenchyma
Viral - HSV - 1
Fever, headache, altered mental state, headache, seizures.
lethargy, poor feeding, bulging fontanelle
Encephalitis causes
HSV-1 (Most commonly)
HSV-2, CMV
Bacterial (TB, Listeria)
Encephalitis IX
Bloods (leukocytosis), CT to exclude stroke/SOL
LP - Viral picture + viral PCR
Encephalitis Tx
IV acyclovir IV Benpen (if bacterial)
Encephalitis complications
SIADH
Cardiac/Resp arrest
Epilepsy (esp temporal)
Prsonality change
SAH
- Usual cause
- Other causes/RF
Berry aneurysm
SVM, vasculitis, HTN, cocaine, ADPKD, MArfans/Ehlers-Danlos
Pres of
SAH
Sudden occipital headache, vomiting, dizziness, confusion
Common place for berry aneurysm
Junction of anterior communicating artery and anterior cerebral artery (front part circle of willis)
SAH signs
Meningism (6h following headache)
Altered GCS
Intraoccular haemorrhage
Focal neurology
CNIII palsy aneurysm location
Posterior communicating artery - Internal carotid junction
SAH Ix and findings
CT head: sub arach bleed
LP: xanthochromia. yellow discolouration of CSF after 12 hrs
Cerebral angiography to locate aneurysm
ECG - QT prolongation (risk arrest)
CSF
- Prod
- Absorbed
Choroid plexus in ventricles make CSF
Flows in subarachnoid space
Absorbed by dural venous sinuses
SAH management + complications
Labetalol for HTN, Nimodipine for vasospasm
Coiling (femoral catheter) or clipping (craniotomy)
Complications: Haemorrhagic stroke, Rebleeding, cerebral ischaemia (vasospasm - give Nimodipine) hydrocephalus, cardiac arrest
Most common cancer mets to brain
- Lung
- Breast
- Colon
- Melanoma
Raised ICP presentation
Headache worse on waking, bend, cough
Papilloedema
Vomitng without nausea
Altered mental state
Raised ICP presentation
Headache worse on waking, bend, cough
Papilloedema
Vomitng without nausea
Altered mental state (irritable, lethargy, COMA)
6th nerve palsy
What is seen in Papilloedema
Venous engorement give blurred disc margins
Haemorrhage
Investigating raised ICP
CT/MRI head
Management of ICP
Anticonvulsants for seizures
Mannitol (diuretic used in ICP)
Analgesia
What may SOL mimic (false localising sign)
CNVI palsy (inward turned eye, cant abduct) most vulnerable CN as longest
Horner’s syndrome - sympathetic trunk (Miosis, ptosis, anhidrosis)
Cerebellar signs (DANISH)
Common vessel in Extra dural haemorrhage
Middle meningeal artery
Blood between bone and dura
Extra-dural
- Cause
- Initial pres
- Later pres
Trauma + LOC
Lucid interval
Headache
Deterioration
N+V, Seizure, altered GCS, Bradycardai
Reason for deterioration following lucid interval in Extra-dural
ICP due to metabolites cause osmotic swelling and deterioration
Extra-dural
- Ix
- Mx
CT head (haematoma)
Bloods - FBC, U&E, Coag
X-ray skull fracture
Mannitol/hypertonic saline
Surgery: Burr hole craniotomy and clot evacuation
Extra-dural complication
Neurological deficits, Post-Trauma seizures
Preventing extradural
Helmets
Extradural CT
Lens shaped haematoma
Doesn’t cross suture lines
Might have midline shift
Subdural haematoma
- Location of blood
- Mech
- Pres timing
- Cause to remember
Blood in space between dura and arachnoid
Bridging vein tear (cortex to venous sinus). Elderly - cerebral atrophy. tension on veins = inc risk.
Acute, subacute (3-7d post trauma), chronic (2-3w)
Could be NAI …
Subdural RF
Elderly (cerebral atrophy)
Alcoholism (prolonged bleeding)
Anticoagulation
Subdural presentation pattern
Lucid interval (can be hours - acute, or days/weeks - chronic)
Gradually worsening anorexia, N&V, headache, limb weakness, speech impair, Raised ICP
Subdural Ix and Tx
Non-contrast CT
Bloods
Resus and Mannitl/hypertonic saline
Surgery: Craniotomy + clot evacuation
Subdural Complications
Cerebral herniation /oedema
Seizures
Permanent neurological deficit
Subdural cT
Crescent shaped haematoma crossing suture lines
Mid line shift
Fracture base of skull signs
Panda eyes
Battle sign (bruising over mastoid process)
Blood in middle ear
CSF: Rhinorrhoea, otorrhoea
Migraine triggers mnemonic
CHOCOLATE
CHeese Oral contraceptive Caffeine alcOhoL Anxiety Exercise
Types of migraine
With aura
With aura
Aura without headache
Hemiplegic (headache + hemiplegia)
Menstrual
Migraine pres
Aura in 1/3 before headache (scintillating scotoma, somatosensory - unilateral numbness hand/arm/face)
Headache: unilateral, pulsating, 4-72hrs
N&V, photophobia/phonophobia
Irritable
Management of migraine (acute attack)
Analgesia (para, aspirin)
Triptan
Ergotamine (vasoconstrictor)
When are triptans CI
5-HT (serotonin) Receptor agonist - serotonin mediated vasoconstriction
Uncontrolled HTN, CHDm CVD, Angina
Migraine preventative Tx
1st line: Beta-blocker
2nd: Topiramate (anticonvulsant)
Amitriptyline, Gabapentin
CI to beta blockers
Asthma
Peripheral vascular disease (lower systemic vasc pressure bad for claudication)
Myasthenia gravis (inc weakness)
Migraine and COCP
- relationship
- why
COCP CI in migraine (esp with aura)
Inc risk of ischaemic stroke
Migraine in preg. What drugs cant be given
Aspirin (Reyes)
Triptans
Cluster headache
- who
- usual pattern
Male 20-40 yr
45-90mins, 1-2 times day over 6-12 weeks
Usually yearly
Cluster headache pres
Sharp, localised around the eye
Autonomic features (Lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, flushing, partial horners)
Restless/cant keep still (opposite of migraine)
Cluster headache
- triggers
- acute stage Tx
Alcohol, GTN (vasodilation)
Subcut Sumatriptan + O2
Cluster headache prevention
Stop smoking / alc
1st line: Verapamil
Prednisolone
2nd line: Lithium
Tension headache presentation
Gradual onset bilateral band like
fronto-occipital/neck radiation
No other disturbance (photo/phonophobia, visual, sensory)