Neuro Flashcards
What are lateralising signs?
Reflect a problem with 1 hemisphere versus the other
- Inattention
- Gaze paresis
- Upper limb drift with arms outstretched and eyes closed
- Slower localising/flexion response 1 side
- Asymmetric motor response
Causes of Coma
AEIOUTIPS
- Acidosis/Alcohol
- Epilepsy
- Infection- HSE/Meningitis
- Overdose
- Uraemia
- Trauma to head- SAH
- Insulin- hyper/hypo/DKA
- Psychogenic
- Stroke
Who can diagnose brainstem death?
2 medical practitioners who have been registered for at least 2 years, at least one consultant
What conditions need to be met in order to diagnose brainstem death?
Body temp > 34
MAP > 60 with no hypoxia
Acidaemia or alkalaemia
What are the criteria for brainstem death?
Pupils fixed & dilated & unresponsive
No corneal reflex
Oculovestibular reflexes absent- no eye mvmts on injection of ice cold water into ear
No motor responses by adequate stimulation
No cough reflex to bronchial stimulation
No evidence of spontaneous respiration or respiratory effort
Causes of brainstem death
Tumour, MS, metabolic (central pontine myelonecrosis), trauma, spontaneous haemorrhage, infarction, infection
Causes of cerebellar syndrome
MS, stroke, tumour, drugs (eg phenytoin), thiamine deficiency, paraneoplastic, hypothyroidism, infections
Signs of cerebellar syndrome
DANISH - Dysdiadokinesia - Ataxia - Nystagmus - Intention tremor - Slurred speech - Hypotonia (reduced reflexes)
What type of gait is seen in cerebellar syndrome?
Broad-based gait
Define epilepsy
Recurrent tendency to spontaneous, intermittent, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain, manifesting as seizures
Causes of epilepsy
Idiopathic
SOL, stroke, vascular malformation, tuberous sclerosis, SLE
Localising features of epilepsy
Temporal- automatisms, deja vu, emotional disturbance, taste/smell, auditory hallucinations
Frontal- motor features, motor arrest, speech arrest, post-ictal Todd’s palsy
Parietal- sensory disturbance, motor symptoms
Occipital- visual phenomena
A person has epilepsy with the following features: automatisms, deja vu, emotional disturbance, taste/smell, auditory hallucinations.
What lobe is the epilepsy affecting?
Temporal
A person has epilepsy with the following features: motor features, motor arrest, speech arrest, post-ictal Todd’s palsy.
What lobe is the epilepsy affecting?
Frontal
A person has epilepsy with the following features: visual phenomena.
What lobe is the epilepsy affecting?
Occipital
A person has epilepsy with the following features: sensory disturbane and motor symptoms.
What lobe is the epilepsy most likely affecting?
Parietal
What are myoclonic seizures?
Seizures involving sudden jerk of a limb, face or trunk
What are atonic seizures?
Seizures where there is sudden loss of muscle tone
Management of generalised tonic-clonic seizures?
Sodium Valproate
Lamotrigine
Carbamazepine
Management of absence seizures
Sodium Valproate/Lamotrigine
Which drug should be avoided in management of tonic/aclonic/myoclonic seizures?
Carbamazepine
Management of partial seizures
Carbamazepine
How long should somebody not drive after a seizure?
Avoid driving until 1 year seizure-free
Side effects of Carbamazepine
Leukopenia, diplopia, blurred vision, impaired balance, rash
Side effects of Lamotrigine
Diplopia, blurred vision, photosensitivity, tremor, agitation
Side effects of Sodium Valproate
VALPROATE:
- Appetite lost
- Liver failure
- Pancreatitis
- Reversible hair loss
- Oedema
- Ataxia
- Teratogenic/Tremor/Thrombocytopenia
- Encephalopathy
Which anti-epileptic should be used in pregnancy?
Lamotrigine
Supplement with folic acid
What is status epilepticus?
Non-self-limiting manifestation of epileptic seizure
What is the most common cause of status epilepticus in in people without epilepsy?
Alcohol
Stages of status epilepticus
T0: seizure starts
T1: point at which seizure is not self-limiting
T2: point at which there will be some physiological damage
Management of status epilepticus
IV Benzodiazepine - Diazepam Oxygen Bloods for hypoglycaemia/hypercalcaemia Cultures Sodium valproate to prevent further seizures
What are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?
Episodes of movement, sensation or experience that resemble epileptic seizures but without ictal cerebral dischaarges
Typical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Eyes closed Partially responsive Very prolonged Gradual onset Can be emotional Violent thrashing Usually tired post-seizure
Gold standard for diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Video electroencephalogram
Management of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
CBT, Hypnotherapy, anti-anxiety/depressants
What is primary vs secondary head injury?
PRIMARY: damage at time of impact
SECONDARY: injury as a result of changes following primary insult eg oedema, haematoma
What are the criteria for C-spine immobilisation?
- GCS < 15 at any point
- Neck pain/tenderness
- Focal neurological deficit
- Paraesthesia in extremities
- Any other clinical suspicion of C-spine injuries
Criteria for CT head within 1 hour
- GCS < 13 initially or < 15 after 2hrs
- Suspected open/depressed skull #
- Signs of basal skull #
- Post-traumatic seizure
- > 1 episode vomiting
Signs of basal skull fracture
Echymosis behind ear (battle sign) Epistaxis Subconjunctival haemorrhage Periorbital haemorrhage (raccoon eyes) Loss of sensation to face Haemotympanum
Define stroke
Sudden onset of focal neurological signs of presumed vascular origin lasting > 24hrs
Risk factors for stroke
Hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, diabetes, obesity, alcohol, carotid artery disease, recreational drugs eg cocaine, age, male, FH
What is the most common site of ischaemic stroke?
Middle cerebral artery
What are the different classifications in Bamford Stroke classification?
Total Anterior Circulation Stroke
Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke
Posterior Circulation Stroke
Lacunar Stroke
What is a Total Anterior Circulation Stroke as defined by Bamford Stroke classification?
ALL of…
- Unilateral weakness +/- sensory deficit
- Homonymous Hemianopia
- Higher cerebral dysfunction- dysphasia, visuospatial disorder
What is a Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke as defined by Bamford Stroke classification?
2 of…
- Unilateral weakness +/- sensory deficit
- Homonymous Hemianopia
- Higher cerebral dysfunction- dysphasia, visuospatial disorder
What is a Posterior Circulation Stroke as defined by Bamford Stroke classification?
1 of…
- Cerebellar or brainstem syndromes
- Loss of consciousness
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
What is a Lacunar Stroke as defined by Bamford Stroke Classification?
No evidence of higher cerebral dysfunction and 1 of…
- Unilateral weakness +/- sensory deficit
- Pure sensory stroke
- Ataxis hemiparesis
Investigations of Stroke
CT head scan within 24hrs of onset
MRI head if unsure/possible haemorrhagic
Carotid Dopplers if anterior circulation
Management of Stroke (ischaemic)
Aspirin
Thrombolysis- Alteplase <4.5hrs
Thrombectomy if NIHSS score > 10
Anticoagulation from 2wks after event
Management of Stroke (haemorrhagic) in a person on Warfarin
Reverse Warfarin:
- Vitamin K takes 6-8hrs
- Prothrombinex-VF if immediate
Features of Tension Headache
Generalised headache- bilateral pressure + tightness around head Non-pulsating No nausea Spreads into or arises from neck Mild-moderate
Most common trigger of tension headaches
Stress
How long do tension headaches typically last?
30 mins - 7 days
Management of tension headaches
- Simple analgesia + reassurance
- Alternative to NSAID eg Naproxen
- Alternative therapies eg Acupuncture
- Amitriptylline
Which is the only headache more common in men?
Cluster headache
Risk factors for cluster headache
Alcohol, smoking, brain injury, FH, histamine, GTN
Features of cluster headache
Severe unilateral orbital, supraorbital, temporal pain
Lasting 15 mins - 3hrs
Abrupt onset and cessation
Associated with lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea, miosis, ptosis, eyelid oedema
Can’t sit still
Management of cluster headache (acute)
Subcut Sumatriptan
100% O2
Topical lidocaine IN
Prevention of cluster headache
During cluster: Prednisolone, Ergotamine
Prevention of cluster: Verapamil, Lithium
What is Hydrocephalus?
Accumulation of CSF within the brain –> raised ICP
What is the aetiology of Hydrocephalus?
Accumulation of CSF within the brain –> raised ICP
Due to obstruction of ventricular drainage
Pus- bacterial meningitis
Blood- SAH or intraventricular haemorrhage
Posterior fossa tumours
Spina Bifida
Investigations of Hydrocephalus
CT/MRI
LP CONTRAINDICATED
Management of Hydrocephalus
CSF diversion- external ventricular drain, CSF shunt etc
Causes of raised Intracranial pressure
Mass- haematoma, tumour, abscess
Oedema
Increased CSF
Increased cerebral blood volume- vasodilatation, venous obstruction
Presentation of raised intracranial pressure
Headache, vomiting, diplopia, blurred vision, drowsiness, papilloedema, limitation of upward gaze, fixed dilated pupil
Management of raised intracranial pressure (immediate)
Mannitol- osmotic diuresis
Burr hole/craniotomy
What is cushing’s triad?
Signs of raised intracranial pressure
- Hypoventilation
- Bradycardia
- Hypertension
What is the equation for cerebral perfusion pressure?
Cerebral perfusion pressure = MAP - intracranial pressure
What is Syncope?
Transient global cerebral hypoperfusion
Types of syncope (3)
- Reflex- vasovagal, situational, carotid sinus hypersensitivty
- Cardiogenic- arrhythmias, cardiac ischaemia, structural heart disease
- Orthostatic hypotension
Investigations of syncope
ECG, CT/MRI, EEG
GCS Scoring
Eye opening /4 1. None 2. To pain 3. To voice 4. Spontaneously Verbal response /5 1. None 2. Groans 3. Inappropriate words 4. Confused speech 5. Orientated Motor response /6 1. None 2. Extension to pain 3. Flexion to pain 4. Withdraws from pain 5. Localises to pain 6. Obeys commands
Describe MRC Power grading
0 = no muscular contraction 1 = visible muscular contraction but no mvmt 2 = mvmt at joint but not against gravity 3 = mvmt against gravity but not resistance 4 = mvmt against some resistance but not full strength 5 = full strength
Describe reflex grading
0 = Absent 1 = Hypoactive 2 = Normal 3 = Brisk/Hyperactive 4 = Markedly hyperactive with clonus
Causes of UMN signs
Tumour, masses, inflammation, MS, stroke, myelopathy
UMN signs
Spastic gait
Hypertonia
Hyperreflexia
Babinski- upgoing plantars
Ankle clonus
Hoffman’s sign (flicking middle finger makes index finger twitch)
Pyramidal weakness- flexors > extensors in arms, opposite in legs
Causes of LMN signs
GBS, peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, meningitis
LMN signs
Flaccid weakness Hyporeflexia Hypotonia Fasciculations Wasting