Neuro MDT Flashcards
One of the most common medical complaints
Effects 12-16% if 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 indicates what?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
Absence of headaches similar to the present headache indicates:
CNS Infection
Headache with a fever could indicate:
Meningitis
Headache with rapid onset with exercise
Intracranial hemorrhage associated with a brain aneurysm
Headache with nasal congestion
Could be Sinusitis
Headache with papilledema
Increased intracranial pressure
What are the reasons for imaging a headache
- Recent change in pattern, frequency, or severity of headaches
- Progressive worsening despite therapy
- Focal neurological deficits or scalp tenderness
- Onset of headache with exertion, cough, or sexual activity
- Visual changes, auras, or orbital bruits
- Onset of headache after age 40
- History of trauma, hypertension, fever
Most prevalent headache
“Vice-Like”
Often exacerbated by emotional stress, fatigue, noise, glare
May be associated with neck muscles
Tension headache
Treatment for tension headaches
Ibuprofen 400-800mg PO q 4-6 hrs - Max 2400mg daily
Naproxen 250-500mg PO q 12 hrs
Tylenol 325-1000mg PO q 4-6 hrs, max 4g/24 hours
Intense unilateral pain that starts around the temple or eye
Duration: 15 minutes to 3 hours
Usually occurs “seasonly”
Cluster Headaches
Patient presents with ipsilateral congestion or rhinorrhea, lacrimation, redness of the eye, Horner Syndrome
Associated symptoms of a Cluster Headache
Initial treatment of choice for a Cluster Headache
Inhaled 100% O2 for 15 minutes
Treatment medications for Cluster Headaches
Sumatriptan: 6mg SubQ, repeat 6mg >1 after initial dose
Zolmitriptan: 2.5mg Oral, 2.5 mg >2 hour after dose
Gradual build-up of a throbbing headache
Duration: Several hours
Possible Aura
Family history is often positive
May have associated nausea and vomiting
Migraine
Treatment for acute migraine attacks
Rest in a quiet, darkened room until symptoms subside
Migraine abortive treatment
SubQ Sumatriptan: 6mg
Oral Sumatriptan 25, 50, or 100mg
*50mg has been shown to be the most effective
Oral Zolmitriptan: 2.5mg
When would you prescribe beta blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants to treat migraines?
When migraines occur more than 2-3 times a month or associated significant disability
Treatment for concurring migraine symptoms
Promethazine (antiemetic/antihistamine)
Symptoms occur 1-2 days of injury, subside within 7-10 days
Often accompanied by impaired memory, poor concentration, emotional instability, and increased irritability
Post-traumatic Headache
Treatment for Post-traumatic headache
No special treatment required
Simple analgesics are appropriate first line therapy
Present in 50% of patients with chronic daily headaches
Chronic pain or complaints of headache unresponsive to medication
History reveals heavy use of analgesics
Medication Overuse headache
Treatment for Medication overuse headache
Withdraw medication (improvement in MONTHS, not days)
Percentage of the population will have at least one seizure
5-10%
What age is the highest occurrence for seizures?
Early childhood and late adulthood
Recurrent UNPROVOKED seizures
Epilepsy
An abnormal, excessive, hypersynchronous discharge from an aggregate of CNS neurons
Seizure
Seizures happen in young adults (18-35) from:
1) Trauma
2) Metabolic disorders
3) CNS infection
Seizures are commonly found in older adults (>35) from:
1) Cerebrovascular disease
2) Brain tumor
3) Metabolic disorders
4) Degenerative disorders
5) CNS Infection
Preictal phase can have an aura
Focal seizures with retained awareness
One side of the brain is affected
Partial seizures
One part of the brain is affected
Appears to be awake but not in contact with environment, does not respond normally
Patients will have no memory of what occurred during seizure
Focal Seizure with impaired awareness
Involves the entire brain
May or may not lead to alteration of consciousness
Most common type is Tonic-Clonic seizure (grand mal)
Generalized seizure
Seizure phase characterized by sudden muscle stiffening
Tonic
Seizure phase characterized by rhythmic jerking
Clonic
What phase of a seizure will tongue biting occur
Clonic
“Todd paralysis”
Weakness of the limbs
What phase of the seizure will patients have somnolence, confusion or headache that may occur for several hours
May present with “Todd Paralysis”
Postictal phase
What is used to diagnose a seizure?
Video EEG monitoring
What labs are needed after a seizure has occurred?
Electrolytes, LFT, CBC, Finger stick glucose
Treatment for active seizure
Diazepam 5mg IV/IM Q5-10 minutes (do no exceed 30mg)
MEDEVAC Immediately
Seizure lasting more than or equal to 5 minutes or 2+ seizures without recovery in-between is classified as?
Status Epilepticus (EMERGENCY)
Status Epilepticus treatment
- Diazepam 5mg IV/IM
- Valproic Acid 30mg/kg
- Intubation
Not associated with abnormally excessive neuronal activity
Usually there is no postictal phase
Eyes are closed, usually episodes last longer than 2 minutes
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES)
Treatment for Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure
Psychotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy
What are the two major branches from the carotid artery?
Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Two vertebral arteries fuse to become what artery?
Basilar Artery
What are the branches of the Basilar artery?
Right and Left Posterior Cerebral Arteries (PCA)
What supplies the Cerebellum and Brainstem with blood?
Basilar Artery
What interconnects the internal carotid and vertebral basilar arteries?
Circle of Willis
An acute neurologic injury that occurs as the result of the interrupted blood flow to the brain
Stroke
Rupture of a blood vessel causing bleeding into the brain and lack of cerebral blood flow leading to ischemia
Hemorrhagic stroke
Blockage of a blood vessel causing lack of cerebral blood flow leading to ischemia
Ischemic stroke
TIA and CVA are subtypes for what kind of stroke?
Ischemic stroke subtypes
What percentage of strokes are ischemic?
80%
The 3rd leading medical cause of death & 2nd most frequent cause of neurological morbidity
Stroke
Risk factors of stroke
HTN, atherosclerosis and age
Obstruction of an artery due to a blockage that forms in the vessel; often due to atherosclerosis
Thrombotic
Obstruction of an artery due to a blockage from DEBRIS that has broken off from a distal area
Embolic
Lack of brain blood flow from decreased systemic blood flow
Systemic Hypoperfusion
What lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with VISUAL phenomenons (colors, flashes, scotoma)?
Occipital lobe
What lobe is affected when a patient is having a seizure with PARESTHESIA (tingling, pain, temperature)?
Parietal lobe
What 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
Episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, WITHOUT acute infarction?
Transient Ischemia Attack (TIA)
Episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, WITH acute infarction of central nervous system tissue?
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
What is the only way to determine the difference between a TIA and a CVA?
MRI
What clinical mnemonic is used for clinical manifestations of stroke?
FASTER
FACE drooping or numbness on one side of the face
ARMS - one limb being weaker or more numb than the other side
STABILITY - steadiness on feet
TALKING - slurring, garbled, nonsensical words, inability to respond normally
EYES - Visual changes
REACT - MEDEVAC immediately and note time of symptom onset
What intracranial hemorrhage generally has a gradual onset?
Intracerebral hemorrhage
What intracranial hemorrhage has a rapid response to pain, usually “the worst headache of my life”?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
What number of patients with ICH have headache, vomiting, decreased level of consciousness?
About Half
Outpouchings and ballooning of artery due to weakness in the vascular wall
Aneurysm
Imaging used for a stroke
Non-contrast CT
MRI
Labs/interventions needed for a suspected stroke patient
- EKG
- O2 Saturation
- Fingerstick blood glucose (FBG)
- CBC
MEDEVAC Immediately
At what Blood pressure levels would you think about lowering a stroke patients BP?
Systolic >220
Diastolic >120
In this case lower the blood pressure by 15% with a Beta Blocker
When can you give Aspirin to a suspected TIA patient?
Thorough Neuro exam reveals no abnormalities and with MO guidance
Where can you find the disposition “Cerebrovascular disease including stroke, transient ischemic attack, and vascular malformation is disqualifying”?
MANMED 15-106
Uncomfortable “creeping, crawling” sensation or “pins and needles feeling” in the limbs, especially the legs
Occurs during periods of inactivity (Evening)
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Patients with RLS will experience what symptom that may or may not awake them?
Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS)
Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome
1) CNS and PNS abnormalities
2) Reduced iron stores
3) Alterations in dopaminergic systems
4) Circadian physiology
5) Neurotransmitter imbalances of glutamate and GABA
PNS abnormality in patients with restless leg syndrome
Hyperalgesia (Increased sensitivity of pain)
What level of sensation do patients with RLS experience?
Deep sensation
What can exacerbate RLS?
Antihistamines
Dopamine receptor antagonists (antinausea - metoclopramide)
Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs
What can be the cause of a patients volitional movements like foot tapping, bouncing, leg rocking?
Lack of circadian rhythm pattern
Definition of Akathisia
Intense desire to move
How can you tell the difference between patients with RLS and nocturnal leg cramps?
Nocturnal leg cramps would have disorganized spasms of muscles associated with PALPABLE muscle contraction
What levels or Serum Ferritin indicate low iron etiology?
<45 to 50mcg/L
Treatment for RLS caused by low iron
Ferrous Sulfate 325mg three times daily for 3-6 months
Turns stool black & Very constipating, use a stool softener/laxative
Patients that respond only to repeated vigorous stimuli
Stuporous patients
Causes of 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
ABRUPT onset of coma could suggest
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Brainstem stroke
Intracerebral hemorrhage
Slow onset and progression of a comatose patient would suggest?
Structural or mass intracranial lesions
Purposeful limb withdrawal to painful stimuli suggests that:
Sensory and motor pathways are intact
Unilateral absence of responses to painful stimuli despite application of stimuli to both side of the body suggests:
Corticospinal lesion
Bilateral absence of painful stimuli responses suggests:
Brainstem involvement
Bilateral pyramidal tract lesions
Psychogenic unresponsiveness
Posturing may occur with lesions of the internal capsule and rostral cerebral peduncle
Decorticate (flexor)
Posturing may occur with dysfunction or destruction of the midbrain and rostral pons
Decerebrate (extensor)
Unilateral absence of corneal reflex implies damage to?
Ipsilateral Pons or a trigeminal nerve deficit
Bilateral absence of corneal reflex can be seen with:
Large Pontine lesions or in deep pharmacologic coma
Ipsilateral hemispheric lesion, contralateral pontine lesion, or ongoing seizures from the contralateral hemisphere could cause what kind of eye movements?
Conjugate deviation
Deep breathing with alternate periods of apnea
Found in bi-hemispheric, diencephalic disease, or metabolic disease
Cheyne-Strokes Respiration
Central neurogenic hyperventilation occurs with lesions in what part of the CNS?
Brainstem tegmentum
Prominent end-inspiratory pauses
Suggest damage at the pontine level
Apneustic breathing
Completely irregular pattern of breathing
Associated with lesions of lower pontine tegmentum and medulla
Atactic breathing
Max score of GCS
15
Lowest score of GCS
3
What is the GCS verbal response graded for an intubated patient?
1T
What GCS range suggests a minor brain injury?
13-15
What GCS range suggests moderate brain injury?
9-12
What GCS range suggests severe brain injury?
3-8
Naloxone dosage
IV/IM/SubQ: 0.4 to 2mg (repeat doses every 2-3 minutes as needed)
What should be considered when administering Naloxone to an opioid dependent patient?
Avoid acute withdrawal syndrome
Use lower doses like 0.1 to 0.2mg
Sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head that leads to impact of the brain against the cranium
Concussion
Mildest subset of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
May or may not lose consciousness
Concussion
According to the CDC how many concussion cases were there in 2013?
2.8 million
Leading cause of concussions
Falls (47%)
Most accident prone to concussion
Young (15-34), male, and drunk
How long would you observe and awaken a concussed patient?
Direct observation for 24 hours
Awaken every 2 hours
Occurs when patient is symptomatic from the 1st concussion and sustains a 2nd concussion
Second Impact Syndrome (FATAL)
Repeated concussions lead to cumulative neuropsychologic deficits.
-Behavior changes, personality changes, depressions, increased suicidality, Parkinsonism, speech and gait abnormalities
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Thin areas of the skull
1) Temporal region
2) Nasal Sinuses
Battle sign, Raccoon eyes, hemotympanum, CSF rhinorrhea/otorrhea, cranial nerve deficits would indicate what type of skull fracture?
Basilar skull fracture
base of the skull fracture
Bradycardia + Hypertension + Respiratory irregularity
Cushing’s Triad
Suspected signs of increased ICP or brain herniation you should:
1) Secure and maintain an open airway
2) Elevate the head of the bed by 25-30 degrees
3) Ventilate for oxygenation and avoid hypercarbia
What types of IV solutions do you NOT want to use when treating a patient with increased ICP?
1) Glucose containing
2) Hypotonic
(Avoid overhydration; more hydration = more pressure)
What osmotic therapies can be used to reduce brain volume by drawing free water out of tissue and into circulation where it can then be excreted by the kidneys?
- Mannitol (osmotic diuretic) 1g/kg IV 15-20% solution
2. Hypertonic NaCl 7.5% 250 cc open bolus
What should you consider as a last resort in an increased ICP patient?
Hyperventilation
What are the types of Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) locations?
1) Epidural
2) Subdural
3) Subarachnoid
4) Intracerebral bleed
ICH Classification:
- 1-4% of head trauma cases
- Highest among adolescents
- Usually caused by traffic accidents, falls, and assaults
- 75-95% have a skull fracture
Epidural hematoma
What artery is commonly affected in an epidural hematoma?
Middle Meningeal Artery
Treatment for epidural hematoma
Immediate neurosurgical consultation
-Operation likely required: Trephination, Burr hole
ICH Classification:
- 20% of severe head injuries
- Elderly, ETOH abusers, people on anticoagulants
- Can occur WITHOUT impact
- 60% mortality rate
Subdural Hematoma
Cranial Hematoma that:
- Tears binding veins, drain from the brain to the Dural sinuses
- May tamponade, GRADUAL progression
- May be CHRONIC
Subdural Hematoma
Acute subdural hematoma usually presents itself how many days after onset?
1 to 2 days
Chronic subdural hematoma usually presents itself how many days after onset?
15 days
ICH Classification:
- Usually a rupture of a blood vessel (aneurysm) is involved
- Trauma or a congenital anomaly
- Bleeding is high pressure, combines with CSF causing severe pain
Subarachnoid Hematoma (SAH)
What are some activities that increase risk for a SAH?
Drug use (cocaine, amphetamines), smoking, hypertension, alcohol use
Checklist by MACE, used as soon as possible on a patient with suspected head injuries
IED
Injury
Evaluation H: Headaches or vomiting? E: Ear ringing A: Amnesia/loss of consciousness D: Double vision or dizziness S: Something feels wrong?
Distance: Service member within 50 meters of blast?
Concussion that impacts the opposite side from rebound motion
Coup-Contrecoup
Red flags for a concussion
Lack of recall or repetitious questioning
Early symptoms of a concussion (minutes to hours)
Headache, dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, nausea, vomiting
Delayed symptoms of a concussion (hours to days)
Mood/cognitive disturbance, light/noise sensitivity, sleep disturbance
If seizures occur within what time frame it’s more related to TBI than epilepsy?
One week of head injury
Complete a MACE exam within how many hours?
48 hours
First concussion results in how many hours of rest or limited duty?
24 hours
Second diagnosed concussion within a 12-month period results in how much rest?
7 days
Three concussions in a 12-month period would result in:
Return to duty delayed until a RECURRENT concussion evaluation has been conducted
1) Comprehensive Neurological Evaluation
2) Neuroimaging
3) Neuropsychological Assessment
4) Functional Assessment
5) Duty Status Determination
Recurrent Concussion Evaluation
- 40 million persons affected each year
- MVA (47%), Falls (23%), Violence (14%). Sports (9%)
- Largely affects young males
Spinal cord injuries
What is the pathophysiology for severe spinal cord injuries?
Injury to vertebral column which leads to mechanical compression of the spinal cord
What part of the spine would indicate poor respiratory function and may require intubation if necessary?
Cervical
What medications could reduce spinal cord swelling?
Steroid use: Methylprednisolone 125mg IM/IV 4-6 hours prn
Consult with MO
What mnemonic is used for C-spine X-ray?
NSAID
N: Neurological Deficit S: Spinal Tenderness A: Altered mental status I: Intoxicated D: Distracting injuries
What disks are the most commonly affected in patients with Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)?
L5-S1 disks (90% of the time)
Causes electric shock-like pain radiating down the posterior aspect of the leg often to below the knee
Sciatica
What spinal herniation causes pain, paresthesia and sensory loss in the inguinal region
L1
What spinal herniation location is classified as acute back pain that radiates around the anterior aspect of the thigh knee and may have weakness of hip flexion, knee extension and hip adduction?
L2, L3, L4
What spinal herniation has pain radiating down the lateral aspect of the leg into the foot and decreased strength in foot dorsiflexion, toe extension, foot inversion, foot eversion?
L5
Spinal herniation resulting in pain radiating down posterior aspect of leg into the foot, weakness in plantar flexion due to gastrocnemius
S1
Presence or worsening of radicular pain with straight leg testing
Lasegue’s Sign
Bundle of nerves that spread out from the bottom of the spinal cord
Cauda equina
Causes of cauda equina syndrome
1) Herniated Disk
2) Infection or inflammation
3) Cancer
4) Spinal Stenosis
Clinical presentation:
- Pain, numbness, or tingling in the lower back and spreading down 1 or both legs
- Leg weakness, “Foot drop” - unable to hold your foot up while walking
- Problems with bladder or bowel control
- Problems with sex
Cauda Equina Syndrome
An entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve between the carpal ligament and other structures within the carpal tunnel
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is commonly seen in what types of patients?
Pregnancy
Diabetes mellitus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Nerve that innervates thumb, pointer, middle and half of the ring finger
Median Nerve
What is used for Carpal tunnel diagnosis?
Tinel or Phalen’s sign exacerbates neuropathic symptoms
Diagnosed with ultrasound and nerve conduction studies
Carpal tunnel definitive treatment
Carpal tunnel release surgery
An acute facial paralysis of a specific pattern, lower motor neuron disease affects CN VII
Rare (34 out of 100,000 people)
Bell’s Palsy
What diseases are associated with Bell’s Palsy?
Herpes Simplex Virus
Lyme Disease
HIV
Upward rolling of the eye on an attempted lid closure
Bell’s Phenomenon
How would you differentiate a stroke from Bell’s Palsy?
In a stroke there is no forehead paralysis.
Intact forehead muscle tone suggests stroke.
Moderate Bell’s Palsy treatment
Prednisone (steroid) 60 mg PO daily x 7 days, then 5 day taper
Severe Bell’s Palsy treatment
Prednisone (steroid) 60 mg PO daily x 7 days, then 5 day taper
AND
Valacyclovir (antiviral) 1000mg 3 times daily for 7 days
What percentage of Bell’s Palsy recover completely without treatment?
60%
What percentage of Bell’s Palsy patients remain disfigured?
10%
In a Bell’s Palsy, how would you treat them to avoid corneal ulcerations?
Artificial tears, lubricating ointment, and possibly an eye shield
Inflammation of the coverings of the brain
May be viral or bacterial, spirochete, or fungal etiology
Meningitis
Common bacterial causes of meningitis
1) Streptococcus pneumonia
2) Neisseria meningitides
3) Listeria monocytogenes
Viral etiologies for meningitis
- Enterovirus
- Herpes simplex (13-36% of patients with genital herpes)
- West Nile Virus
Classic triad of acute meningitis
1) Fever
2) Nuchal Rigidity
3) Change in mental status
Meningitis symptoms with a RASH would come from what etiology?
Neisseria meningitides
How could you tell the difference between meningitis and encephalitis?
Encephalitis brain function is abnormal leading to altered mental status, motor and sensory deficits, altered behavior, speech disorders
Meningitis, cerebral function is normal
Spontaneous flexion of hips during flexion of neck
Brudzinski sign
Inability or reluctance to allow full extension of knee when hip is flexed at 90 degrees
Kernig sign
Treatment for bacterial meningitis
Antibiotic that crosses the blood-brain barrier
- Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 2g IV Q12Hr
- Vancomycin
Dexamethasone 0.15mg/kg IV Q6hr (decreases inflammation)
Meningitis prophylaxis for exposed crew
- Ciprofloxacin (500mg PO x 1)
- Mask patients and medical personnel in close proximity
Three categories of Chronic Pain
1) Nociceptive pain
2) Neuropathic pain
3) Centralized pain
Pain caused by stimuli that threaten or result in bodily tissue damage
Nociceptive pain
Pain resulting from maladaptive response to damage or pathology of the somatosensory nervous system
Can occur in absence of active stimuli or as exaggerated response to minor or moderate stimuli
Neuropathic pain
Reduced ability of the CNS to diminish responses to peripheral stimuli
Centralized pain
An acutely painful condition that persists beyond the usually expected 6-12 week time course for healing
Chronic pain
Initial treatment for chronic pain management
Non-pharmacologic therapies
- Home exercise programs
- Physical therapy
Medications that inhibit descending pain modulation (Neuropathic pain treatment)
Gabapentin
TCA’s
SNRI’s
How many stages are there for NREM?
THREE
1) Beginning sleep cycle
2) Become less aware (people spend 50% in this stage)
3) Deepest sleep stage, muscles relax, delta wave sleep
Dreams occur in this stage and brain is more active, eyes move rapidly
“Paradoxical sleep”
REM
How many REM periods are there every night and how long in total?
4-5 REM Periods, make up 1.5 to 2 hours
When does the first REM period start?
80-120 minutes after onset of sleep
What is impaired by loss of sleep?
Creativity and rapidity of response to unfamiliar situations
How do you diagnose insomnia?
- Chronic diagnoses established by history
2. Sleep history for 1 week
Short term insomnia (less than once a month in duration) usually is caused by?
Psychologic or physiologic stress
How should chronic insomnia be treated?
Psychological sleep referral for cognitive behavior therapy
What are medications that can help with insomnia?
Melatonin
Trazodone
Vistaril (hydroxyzine)
Diphenhydramine
Sensation of motion when there is no motion or an exaggerated sense of motion in response to movement
Vertigo
Etiologies of peripheral vertigo
BPPV
Herpes Zoster
Otitis Media
Aminoglycoside toxicity
Etiologies of central vertigo
Brainstem ischemia
Multiple sclerosis
Vestibular migraine
Quickly lowering the patient to the supine position with the head extending over the edge and placed 30 degrees lower than the body, turning the head left or right
Dix-Hallpike Testing
Patients with benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo (BPPV) will elicit what response after a Dix-Hallpike test?
Delayed onset (~10 seconds) of fatigable nystagmus
If no nystagmus from a Dix-Hallpike test, indicates what?
CNS Disease
Treatment of vertigo
Anti-vertigo:
- Meclizine 25-50mg q 6-12 hours
- Diazepam 1mg PO q 12 hours
Antiemetic:
- Ondansetron 4mg PO/IV q 8 hours
- Promethazine 12.5 to 25mg every 4-6 hours