Neuro Flashcards
Discuss diagnositc criteria for febrile siezures
1) Convulsion associated with an elevated temperauter greater than 38 degrees
2) a child older than 6 months and younger than 5 years
3) absence of CN infection or inflammation
4) Absence of acute systemic metabolic abnormality that my produce convulsions
5) no history of previous afebrile seizures
Discuss simple and complex febrile seizures
Simple
- generalised tonic clonic seizure
- duration of less than 15 minutes
- complete recovery within 1 hour
- do not recur within the same febrile illness
Complex
- focal features at onset or during the seizure
- duration greater than 15 minutes
- incomplete recovery within 1 hour
- recurrence within the same febrile illness
Recurrence rate depends on the age of the child; the younger the child at the time of the initial seizure, the greater the risk of a further febrile seizure (1 year old 50%; 2 years old 30%
Discuss criteria for discharge for febrile seizures
- Returned to a normal neurological state following a simple febrile seizure
- serious bacterial infection excluded or adequetly treated
- underlying illness managed appropriately
- patients aware of first aid advise and management of possible subsequent seizures
Discuss DDX of altered mental state in children
Vascular events
- stroke
- AVM with bleed
Infection
- menigitis
- sepsis
- encephalitis
Trauma
Tox
Anatomic or structrual
-Mass or tumor
Metabolic derangements
GIT
-Intusseception
Seizures
AEIOU TIPS A- ammonia, alcohol, atypical migraine, abuse E: electrolyte, epilepsy, encephalitis I: insulin (hypo), intussusception, inborn erros of metbaolism O- oxygen (hypoxia), opiates, overdose U- uremia T- trauma, tumor I: infection P: poisoning, psych S: seziure, sepsis, subarach
Discuss IX of altered mental state in children
Bedside: BGL and ECG
Bloods: FBC, LFT, U&E , VBG
Advanced imaging based on the presence of focal neurology and history and exam
Special consideration should be made regarding the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures such as lumbar puncture
In infants under 3 months the difficulties in assessing this population often necessitates are more thorough investigation. including urine and CSF sampling
Discuss caustive pathogens by age group for meningitis
Newborns: GBS, EColi, listeria monocytogens
Infants and children: Strep pneumo, N meningitidis, H influaenzae
Adolescents and young adults: N menigitidis, s. pneumo
Discuss Empiric AB by age
0-28 days -> Amp 50mg/kg TDS + Gentamycin 5mg/kg + Cefotaxime 50mg/kg TDS
28days - 3months: Amp or vanc + cefotaxime or ceftriazxone
> 3months: ceftriaxone + vanc
Aciclovir 10mg/kg or 500mg/m2
Define seizure (provoked vs non provoked) + define epilepsy
A paroxysmal event characterized by temporary involuntary changes in the patient cuased by abnormal and excessive activity of a group of cortical neurons.
They can be classified as unprovoked or provoked. Provoked have a clear identifiable trigger such as fever, metabolic derangement and trauma
Unprovoked seizures have no clear precedent
Epilepsy is commonly defined as the occurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures
Discuss DDX of seizures in children
Fever
- viral infection, menigitis, encephalitis, brain abcess
Trauma
- Cerebral contusion, haemorrhage, impact seizure (if occuring within 1 hour of impact does not signify significant underlying injury or risk of developing epilepsy)
Tox
-Drug intoxication or withdrawal
metabolic
-hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hypernatraemia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, hepatic or renal disorders, inborn errors of metabolism
Neoplastic
Vascular
- AVM
- Sub arach, cerebral venous thrombosis
Neurocutaneous
-neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, sturge weber syndrom
neurodegen
- hypoxia
- VP shunt malfunction
- CP
- derebral dysgenesis
- primary epilepsy
Discuss episodic disorders that may mimic siezure activity
- Breath holding spells
- rigors
- GORD
- migraine
- sleep disorders
- ALTE
- Panic attack
- Psychogenic seizures
Discuss breath holding spells
Common in chlidren aged 6months to 6 years
occur when the child is frightened or distressed - minor accident or fright or when scolded
Most will have first episode of breath holding before 18 months and will grow out of them by the time they are six years old
Two main types
Blue spells ( cyanotic) - the child will
-cry and scream
-breathe out forecefully
-hold there breath and develop central cyanosis
-may become floppy and hav eLOC
Pale spells
- Open mouth as if to cry but no sound comes out
- faint and look very pale
- have period where thier arms and legs become stiff or lose contgrol of thiere bladder and bowel
Define BRUE
Brief resolved unexplained event
Occurs in an infant less than 12 months
-duration >1 minute usually 20-30 seconds
- sudden onset accompanied by a return to a baseline state
-Characterized by >1 of the following
–Cyanosis or pallor
– Absent or decreased or irregular breathing
–marked change in tone
–Aletered level of conciousness
Discuss risk stratification for BRUE
Low risk occurs when there are no concerning features on history or exam and all of the following are met
- > 60 days
- born >32 weeks of gestation and corrected gestation age >45 weeks
- no CPR
- First event
- event lasted < 1 minute
Discuss IX and disposition
Low risk BRUE does not require any investigation and can be safely discharged home with safety netting
If not low risk should be admitted for observation
- ECG
- NPA for viruses and pertusis
- BGL
- FBC and UEC if clinically indicated
Discuss management of seizure in childrenq
A: at risk of apnoea and hypoventialtion if siezure continue so prep for intubation and assistance
B: supllemental o2 should be applied aiming spo2 >94%
C: catious fluid due to risk of ICP
D: Treat hypoglycaemia with 2ml/kg of 10% dex
E: Treat hyponatraemia with 3ml/kg of 3% hypertnoic aiming to increase sodium by 3-7 mmol/l acutely and the rest slowly
Hypernatraemia is treated over 48 horus
Hypocalcaemia treated with 10% calcium gluconate 100mg/kg
Tox as per toxin – isoniazid is particualry resistant to standard anticonvulsants and should be treated with pyridoxine 1G IV for every gram of isoniazid
Discuss Treatment of status
Initial drug of choice is benzos
-Midaz 0.2 mg/kg IM, IN, buccal, 0.15mg/kg IV, can give 2 doses
After 2 doses of benzo risk of respiratory depression increases and second line should be given
Can use Levetiracetam, valproate or phenytoin as second line agent - ESETT and ConSEPT trials found all three to be equally efficacy and nil statistically signifaicnt increase in adverse effects for any of them
Levetiracetam at 40mg/kg as second line
In patient with ongoing siezures despite second line threapy preparation for continous infusions of midaz,prop or phenobarb should be readied – will need intubatuion
Use a different second line if patient already on antiepileptics and compliant
Non convulsive epilepsy is treated as above but more difficult to recognize and may need EEG for diagnosis
Discuss common causes of neonatal seizure
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy CNS infection Intracranial haemorrhage Trauma (accidental and non accidental) Cerebral infarction Chromosomal or congenital brain abnormalities inborn errors of metabolism or other metabolic derangements Drugs intox or withdrawals
Discuss IX of neonatal siezures
BGL FBC U&E Metabolic testing VBG Ammonia
Because clinical assessment of rmeningitis is not reliable in young infants, lumbar punction should be performed and fluid sent for Cell, protein and glucose determinations, MCS + herpes simplex PCR
Advanced imaging should also be performed CT or MRI
In the unstable neonate a head ultrasound can be performed
Discuss management of neonatal seixzures
ABCD
Empirical antibiotics amp + gent + cefotaxime as well as acyclovir 20mg/kg TDS if herpes encephalitis is a clinical consern
Phenobarbital is the most common first line agent for neonatal seizures loading of 20mg/kg with additional 5mg/kg every 15-30 minutes to a max of 30mg/kg - can use benzo as first line particularly if there is to be a delay for phenobarb
NEOLEV2 trial showed superioty of phenobar to levirtarcetam as first line – if phenobarb failed seconda line agents are particularly poor and infants will likely progress to intubation - can use phenytoin, keprra or valproate
If refractory to all treatment pyridoxine 100mg IV should be considered
Discuss disposition for children with seizures ( non infant)
Most can be safely discharged home after appropriate invesitgation of first unprovoked seizure
2/3rds of children with a first unprovoked siezure never experience a recurrence - the risk of recurrence is increased with abnormalities in neuroimaging or EEG, family history of epilepsy, remote symptomatic seizure, first seizure occuring during sleep or Todds paralyis - if none of thees the 5 year recurrence i 21%
As such anticonvulsants are generally not started unless there are 2 unprovoked seizure