Neuro Chapter 5, Medical Diagnosis Flashcards
One of the most common medical complaints
Effects 12-16% of the North American Population
Headache
How many work days are lost each year from headaches?
150 Million
Headaches are rarely caused from what kind of strain?
Rarely caused by refractive error (eyestrain) alone
“Thunderclap” Headache is an Indication of what condition?
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)
What are some reasons to refer for imaging in regards to a headache?
Visual changes, Auras or orbital bruits (turbulence), onset of headache after age 40, history of trauma, hypertension, fever
Absence of headaches similar to the present headache indicates:
CNS Infection
Headache with a fever could be an indication of what?
Meningitis
A headache with rapid onset associated with exercise could be indictative of what?
Intracranial Hemorrhage associated with a brain aneurysm
A headache with nasal congestion could be associated with what?
Sinusitis
A headache with Papilledema (Optic Disc Swelling)
Increased Intracranial Pressure
Most prevalent headache
- “Vice-like”
- Often exacerbated by emotional stress, fatigue, noise, glare
- May be associated with hypertonicity (tightness) of neck muscles
Tension Headache
What are the treatments for a tension headache?
Ibuprofen 400-800 mg q 4-6 hours: Max 2400 mg daily
Naproxen 250-500 mg PO q 12 hours
Acetaminophen 325-1000 mg PO 1 4-6 hrs, max 4g/24 hours
What type of headache is associated with:
- Intense unilateral pain that starts around the temple or eye
- Duration: 15 minutes to 3 hours
- Usually occurs “seasonally”
- Usually affects middle aged men
Cluster Headache
Patient presents with ipsilateral congestion, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, redness of the eye or Horner Syndrome. What are they experiencing?
Associated symptoms of a Cluster Headache
What is the initial treatment of choice for a Cluster headache?
Inhaled 100% Oxygen for 15 minutes
What are the recommended medications for treating a Cluster Headache?
Sumatriptan: 6mg Subq, repeat as need for up to an hour after the intial dose
Zolmitriptan: 2.5 mg Oral, may repeat as needed for up to 2 hours after initial dose
What diagnosis presents with gradual build up of a throbbing headache, may be unilateral or bilateral, duration of several hours, an Aura may or may not be present, postive family history, may have associated nausea and vomiting?
Migraine
What is the treatment for an acute migraine headache?
rest in a quiet, darkened room until symptoms subside
What is the abortive treatment for a migraine?
Simple NSAIDS: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin or Acetaminophen
Sumatriptan: Oral. 25, 50, or 100 mg taken with fluids
* 50 and 100 mg have been shown to be the most effective
Zolmitriptan: 2.5mg, may repeat as needed up to 2 hours after inital dose
When would you prescribe someone beta blockers, Propranolol or MOA’s, antidepressants or anticonvulsants to treat a Migraine?
When migraines occur more than 2-3 times per month or associated significant disability
What is the treatment for concurring symptoms associated with a migraine?
Promethazine: 12.5 to 25mg PO/IM/IV/Rectal every 4-6 hours as needed
What diagnosis is associated with:
- headache within 1-2 days of an injury and subsides after 7-10 days
- Often accompanied by impaired memory, poor concentration, emotional instability and increased irritability?
Post-Traumatic Headache
What is the recommended treatment for a Post-Traumatic Headache?
- No special treatment required
- Simple analgensics are appropriate first line therapy
What diagnosis is associated with:
- Present in 50% of patients with chronic daily headaches
- Chronic pain
- Complaints of headache unresponsive to medication?
Medication Overuse Headache
What is the treatment for a medication overuse headache?
Withdraw medications
- Expect improvement in months, not days
What percentage of the population will have at least one seizure?
5-10%
What age has the highest occurrence of seizures?
Early Childhood and late adulthood
What is an abnormal, excessive, hypersynchronous discharge from an aggregate of CNS neurons?
Seizure
What are the most common reasons for young adults ( 18-35) to experience a seizure?
- Trauma
- Metabolic Disorders (Alcohol withdrawal, uremia, hyper/hypoglycemia)
- CNS Infection
Seizures in older adults (>35) are caused from?
- Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke)
- Brain Tumor
- Metabolic Disorders
- Degenerative Disorders (Alzheimer)
- CNS Infection
What type of seizure is associated with the following symptoms?
- Auras that are associated with an onset of
seizure
- Focal seizure with retained awareness
- Only one side of the brain is affected
Partial Seizure
What type of seizure is associated with the following symptoms?
- One part of the brain is affected - Patient appears to be awake, but not in contact with the environment, doesn't respond normally - Patients often have no memory of what occurred during the seizure
Focal Seizure with impaired awareness
What type of seizure is associated with the following symptoms?
- Involves the entire brain - May or may not lead to alteration of consciousness - Most common type is Tonic-Clonic seizure (grand mal)
Generalized Seizure
Which seizure phase is characterized by sudden muscle stiffening?
Tonic
Which seizure phase is characterized by rhythmic jerking?
Clonic
What phase of seizure is a patient most likely to bite their tongue?
Clonic
Which type of seizure is characterized by a sudden loss of muscle strength?
Atonic Seizure
What phase of seizures is characterized by somnolence, confusion or headache that may occur for several hours or “Todd Paralysis”?
Postictal Phase
What phase of seizures are associated with auras that are associated with an onset to seizures?
Preictal Phase
What is “Todd Paralysis”?
Weakness of the limbs
What ancillary testing is used to diagnose a seizure?
Video EEG monitoring
What labs should be run after a seizure has occured?
- Electrolytes
- LFT
- CBC
- Finger Stick Glucose
what is the treatment for an active seizure?
- Diazepam 5mg IV/IM Q 5-10 minutes (do not exceed 30mg)
- MEDEVAC Immediately
What is the diagnosis for a seizure that lasts more than or equal to 5 minutes or is associated with 2 or more seizures with an incomplete recovery of consciousness?
Status Epilepticus (EMERGENCY)
What is the treatment for Status Epilepticus?
- Diazepam 5-10 mg IV/IM do not exceed 30 mg
- Valproic Acid 30mg/kg
- Intubation
What type of seizure is associated with the following symptoms?
- Not associated with abnormally excessive neuronal activity
- Eyes are closed and episodes last longer than 2 minutes
- Usually there is no postictal phase
- incontinence is less common
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES)
What is the treatment for a Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES)?
Psychotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy
Which lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with VISUAL phenomenons (colors, flashes, scotoma)?
Occipital Lobe
Which lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with PARESTHESIA (tingling, pain, temperature)?
Parietal Lobe
Which lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with hallucinations, epigastric rising, emotions, automatisms, Deja vu?
Temporal Lobe
What lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with head and neck movements, Jacksonian march, posturing?
Frontal Lobe
What are the two major branches that make up the internal carotid arteries?
- Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)
2. Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA)
When the two vertebral arteries fuse they become what?
The Basilar Arteries
What are the branches of the Basilar Artery?
Right Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA)
Left Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA)
What artery supplies the Cerebellum and the Brainstem with blood?
Basilar Artery
What interconnects the internal carotid and vertebral basilar arteries?
Circle of Willis
What is an acute neurologic injury that occurs as the result of the interupted blood flow to the brain?
Stroke
What is a rupture of a blood vessel causing bleeding into the brain and lack of cerebral blood flow leading to ischemia?
Hemorrhagic Stroke
What is a blockage of blood vessels causing a lack of cerebral blood flow leading to ischemia?
Ischemic Stroke
What subtype of stroke are TIA’s and CVA’s?
Ischemic Stroke
- What percentage of strokes are ischemic?
2. What percentage of strokes are hemorrhagic?
- 80%
2. 20%
What is the 3rd leading medical cause of death and the 2nd most frequent cause of neurological morbidity
Stroke
What are some risk factors associated with stroke?
HTN, atherosclerosis and age
What is an obstruction of an artery due to a blockage that forms in the vessel?
Thrombotic
What is an obstruction of an artery due to a blockage from debris that has broken off from a distal area?
Embolic
What is a lack of brain blood flow due to decreased systemic blood flow?
Systemic Hypoperfusion
What is defined as a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction casused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia without acute infarction?
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
What is defined as neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord or retinal ischemia with infarction (tissue death) of central nervous system tissue?
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) or Stroke
What is the only way to tell the difference between a TIA vs a CVA?
MRI
What are the two subtypes of Hemorrhagic Strokes or Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH)?
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
What is the difference between a Intracranial hemorrhage and a Subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Intracranial: Bleeds directly into the brain tissue
Subarachnoid; Bleeds into the subarachnoid space
What diagnosis is a patient describing when they state the “worst headache of my life”?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
What is the initial treatment for Ischemic Stroke?
Maintain oxygenation > 94%
Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees
What labs are required for Ischemic Stroke?
EKG, CBC, FBG, O2 sat
What imaging is utilized for diagnosing a stroke?
Non-contrast CT
MRI
What should be done with a patient’s blood pressure in regards to a Ischemic Stroke?
- Do not lower it acutely
- Unless pressure is above systolic 220 and or diastolic of 120, in this case the blood pressure should be lowered by 15%
What medication should be utilized to lower an ischemic stroke patient’s blood pressure?
Labetalol, 10-20 mg IV, may give same or double dose every 10-20 mins to max of 150mg
What is the treatment for a patient with an ischemic stroke?
Aspirin 325mg (Consult Medical Officer First) MEDEVAC
What resource would you look at when determining a patient’s overall disposition in regards to a TIA or Cerebrovascular disease?
MANMED 15-106
What diagnosis is associated with an uncomfortable “creeping”, “crawling” sensation or “pins and needles feeling” in the limbs, especially in the legs?
Restless Leg Syndrome
During deep sleep a patient may or may not experience what symptom?
Periodic Limb Movements of sleep (PLMS)
What are considered some causes of Restless Leg Syndrome?
- CNS and PNS abnormalities
- Reduced iron stores in the CNS
- Alterations in dopaminergic systems
- Circadian Physiology
- NT imbalances of glutamate and GABA
What is a PNS abnormality associated with RLS?
Patients with RLS have been found to have static hyperalgesia (Increased sensitivity to pain)
What level of sensation do patients with RLS experience?
Deep Sensation
What are some factors that can exacerbate RLS?
Antihistamines
Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs
What can cause a patient to have volitional movements like foot tapping, bouncing or leg rocking?
Lack of Circadian Rhythm Pattern
What is Akathisia?
An intense desire to move
What are disorganized spasms of muscles that are associated with palpable muscle contractions?
Nocturnal Leg Cramps
What levels of Serum Ferritin indicate low iron?
< 45 to 50 mcg/L
What is the treatment for RLS caused by low iron levels?
Ferrous Sulfate 325mg, 3 times a daily for 3-6 months
Supplement with a stool softener/laxative
In patients with an altered mental status, what is it called when they only respond to repeated vigorous stimuli?
Stuporous Patient
What are some medical situations that can lead to a Coma?
- Seizures
- Hypothermia
- Metabolic Disturbances
- Bilateral Cerebral hemispheric dysfunction
- Disturbance of the brainstem reticular
activating system - Mass lesion involving one cerebral hemisphere
that compresses the brainstem
What are some medical situations that can cause an abrupt onset of Coma?
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)
Brainstem Stroke
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
What medical situation would cause a slow onset of coma?
Structural or Mass Intracranial Lesions
What does a purposeful withdrawal to painful stimuli suggests?
Sensory and Motor Pathways are Intact
A Unilateral absence of responses to painful stimuli despite application of stimuli to both sides of the body suggests?
A Corticospinal Lesion