Neuro Pathophysiology Flashcards
What are the three divisions of the afferent division in the peripheral nervous system?
somatic sensory
visceral sensory
special sensory (olfaction and vision)
What are the 2 divisions of the efferent division in the peripheral nervous system?
somatic motor autonomic motor (sympathetic, parasympathetic, enteric)
What is an example of an ANS reflex that Dr. Walker loves to talk about?
baroreceptor reflex, baroreceptors sense increase in pressure/stretch and send signal (afferent) to NTS which sends the signal to the VMC to be integrated and then transmitted down CNX to SA node and decreases HR
Describe the somatic reflex.
Sensory stretch receptors start AP that is send toward spinal cord, signal is transmitted through interneuron or directly to motor nerve which comes out of ventral portion of spinal cord and innervates the muscle to cause contraction
What are the primary functions of the CNS?
- integrates many incoming signals and coordinates appropriate outgoing neural signals
- carries out higher mental function - including memory and learning
What is the primary function of the PNS?
- connects CNS with peripheral structures
The spinal cord is an extension of the _______.
medulla oblongata
When do spinal nerves become apart of the PNS?
As soon as they exit the spinal cord, even though they still have their cell bodies in the spinal cord, if they exit they are considered part of the PNS
Where do the nerves for the cauda equina originate?
conus medullaris
What is the cauda equina?
Bundle of spinal nerves that resemble a horse’s tail, includes 2nd-5th lumbar nerve pairs, 1st-5th sacral nerve pairs, and coccygeal nerve
What regions/organs does the cauda equina innervate?
Pelvic organs, lower limbs, PSNS innervation to bladder and internal and external anal sphincters
What are the 3 demyelinating disorders?
multiple sclerosis (MS)
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
guillan barre syndrome (GBS)
What is the pathophysiology behind MS?
chronic degenerative disease of the CNS caused by misdirection of the immune system & T cells attacking CNS myelin protein; results in decreased number of dendrites and axons in the CNS; transmission along axon is slow
sclerosis refers to multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin sheaths
Does MS occur more in males or females?
females
What are some of the clinical features of MS?
fatigue, parathesias, unsteady gait, muscle weakness and atrophy, respiratory insufficiency, ANS dysfunction
What are some of the manifestations of brain demyelination in MS?
- seizures, spasticity
- emotional lability
- visual loss
- dysarthria, dysphagia
- cognitive dysfunction
What are some of the manifestations of spinal cord lesions with MS?
paresthesias, limb weakness, bowel and bladder symptoms
What are some of the manifestations of brain stem lesions with MS?
autonomic dysfunction
abnormal ventilatory drive
What causes relapses in MS?
Autoimmune assault on myelin which causes focal inflammatory demyelination
What causes remissions in MS?
inflammation subsides and conduction restored; Na+ channels restored and myelin repaired; can last weeks, months, or longer
What causes permanent dysfunction in MS?
axons are destroyed and no longer able to conduct signal
What are some of the anesthetic implications for MS?
- stress associated with anesthesia may worsen symptoms
- spinal anesthesia was avoided but now OK
- epidural and other regional techniques have been used w/o adverse effects
- Altered cardiovascular responses possible
- Avoid succ. due to hyperkalemia
- Prevent hyperthermia - slows conduction
Do patients with MS have upregulated, downregulated, or normal amount of NAchR at the NMJ?
upregulated
How does hyperthermia affect nerve conduction with MS?
slows conduction, 0.5 C temp increase may block nerve conduction in demyelinated fibers
Do patients with MS have increased, decreased, or normal amounts of Ach?
Decreased
What is the pathophysiology behind ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease?
Progressive, degenerative motor disease involving both upper and lower motor neurons, bulbar involvement
What types of muscle are affected by ALS?
any striated muscle of the body
Does ALS occur more in males or females, and at what age?
males > females, usually begins after 4th decade and peak occurrence is at 50
What cranial nerves are not involved with ALS?
CN III, IV, and VI–motor control of eye movement spared
What can cause the initial pathophysiology of ALS?
- heavy metal exposure
- glutamate excitotoxicity
- oxidant stress
- hereditary component (mutation in SOD1 which is a powerful antioxidant)
What does the term “amyotrophic” mean?
lower motor neuron symptoms due to destruction of the ventral (anterior) horn neurons (destruction of neurons that exit the spinal cord)
What does the term “lateral sclerosis” mean?
scarring of lateral cortic-spinal tracts with upper motor neuron symptoms (destruction of neurons that transverse from brain down to spinal cord before point of exit)
What are some of the lower motor symptoms in ALS?
Flaccid paresis:
- muscle weakness, atrophy, hypotonia –> paralysis (plegia)
- lower motor neuron damage more likely to result in permanent paralysis
What are some of the upper motor neuron symptoms in ALS?
spastic paresis:
- stiff and tight muscles causing weakness of movement patterns
- upper motor neuron damage more likely to be repaired
(no modulation of reflex arc)
What are general clinical manifestations of ALS?
- muscle atrophy, fasciculations
- difficulty swallowing
- dysarthria (articulation)
- dysphonia (volume)
- sensory, autonomic, and cognitive functions preserved
Are the NAchR upregulated, downregulated, or normal with ALS?
upregulated
What should you consider with ND-NMBA and ALS?
use sparingly because can cause a prolonged response (Less Ach in NMJ to compete with them)
Can you give succ. to someone with ALS?
no, increased NAchR density causes widespread depolarization and hyperkalemia
What are some anesthetic implications for someone with ALS?
- cognition and sensation intact
- respiratory care (progressive muscle weakness, aspiration risk, difficult mechanical ventilation weaning)
- subclinical autonomic dysfunction could lead to exaggerated decreases in cardiovascular function in response to anesthesia
- awake extubation
What is the definition of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)?
- “acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy”
What is the pathophysiology of GBS?
inflammatory/immune disorder of the peripheral nerves immune cells/Ab attack the Schwann cells resulting in destruction of the myelin sheath; demyelination slows transmission of nerve signals, weakens them over long distances (myelin sheaths of many axons are attacked which leads to a wide array of symptoms)
Is GBS inherited or contagious?
No
What is the peak disability time and recovery time for someone with GBS?
peak disability 10-14 days and recovery time takes weeks to months
What is the prognosis of someone with GBS and do they have residual effects?
prognosis good if axons are spared or regenerate, most patients recover with minimal or no residual deficits
Why is there a 1-5% mortality with those with GBS?
mortality secondary to autonomic dysfunction or PE
What are some of the clinical features of GBS?
- muscle weakness (more often in legs than arms) that is progressive
- areflexia
- cranial nerve and autonomic involvement
- glove and stocking distribution of parasthesias - “pins and needles”
- elevated CSF protein
- sensory action potentials are low-amplitude or absent (d/t demyelination)
- respiratory muscle failure requiring ventilation
- pulmonary aspiration
- ANS - sinus tachycardia, bradyarrhythmia resulting from trivial vagal stimulation, postural hypotension, excessive sweating, ileus
What manifestations of GBS require supportive treatment?
- dysrhythmias and autonomic instability (tachycardia-give lowest dose possible of beta blockers, severe bradycardia-may need pacing)
- thromboembolic complications as a result of stasis due to decreased muscle tone (prophylactic anticoagulation)
- ileus (prokinetics)
- bulbar weakess (related to bulbar nerves found in medulla and can affect CNVII-XII, can lead to speech deficit) - enteral feeding, aspiration
- respiratory paralysis (postop ventilation)
What are some anesthetic implications for someone with GBS?
- succ. contraindicated - causes hyperkalemia
- ND-NMBA should be used sparingly because they cause a prolonged response due to less Ach available to compete with
What are the 2 disorders of the NMJ?
myasthenia gravis (MG) Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS)
What is the pathophysiology behind MG?
is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease with varying degrees of muscle weakness, caused by Abs blocking nAchR at the muscle endplate and increases their turnover; Abs also flatten post-synaptic folds and damage post-synaptic membrane
decreased endplate potentials cause decreased change of AP
What are the clinical features of MG?
- muscle weakness (increases with exercise - fatigability)
- eye, facial, bulbar, and limb muscle weakness
- respiratory muscle weakness rare but possible post-op complication
What are some of the anesthetic implications for MG?
- depends on the severity of the disease
- preop planning and periop care important
- assessment of respiratory and bulbar function
- avoid sedative premedication if evidence of respiratory compromise
What should you do if a patient with MG is taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and is scheduled for surgery?
- withheld on the day of surgery; MG patients generally have a decreased requirement for these drugs int he post-op period
- Ach inhibitors may prolong action of suxamethonium and increase need for nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents
What should you consider with induction and maintenance of anesthesia with someone with MG?
- show increased senstivity to neuromuscular blockade
- relatively resistant to suxamethonium (high doses lead to dual block - indistinguishable from a nondepolarizing -type block)
- extremely sensitive to nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers (faster onset and a more prolonged action in MG)
What should you consider with post-op management of someone with MG?
- short period of post-op mechanical ventilation may be needed
- careful monitoring of respiratory function
- acetylcholinesterase inhibitor therapy restarted in postop period, dose increased as the patient starts to mobilize
What is the pathophysiology of LEMS?
autoimmune disease of the NMJ that involves pathogenic antibodies downregulating presynaptic calcium channels which causes decreased Ach release and muscle weakness
What is LEMS commonly associated with?
60% of LEMS associated with small cell lung cancer, autoantibody produced against tumor expressed in voltage-gated calcium channels
What are some anesthetic implications of LEMS?
- paralytics should be titrated to a minimum
- paralytic reversal is often ineffective
- prepare for post-op ventilation
- 3,4-diaminopyridine (VG-K+ channel inhibitor) can be used post-op
- autonomic disturbances may be present
What are some considerations with LEMS and paralytics?
- increased senstivity to succ (in contrast to MG)
- increased effectiveness of NDNMB
What is a difference between MG and LEMS and their pathophysiologies?
MG affects post-synaptic membrane and LEMS affects pre-synaptic membrane
What is the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy?
defect of muscle fiber from absence of dystrophin protein in muscle which leads to progressive weakness
Is muscular dystrophy genetic?
Yes, located on x-chromosome (more common in males) and is recessive trait
What are some anesthetic implications for muscular dystrophy?
- succ causes hyperkalemia and malignant hyperthermia
- hypersensitive to NDNMR
What protein do patients with muscular dystrophy lack?
dystrophin protein
What is the pathophysiology of scoliosis?
lateral rotational curvature of the spine; muscles, ligaments and soft tissue become shortened on the concave side of the curvature (may be neurologic in origin); over time deformities of vertebral column and ribs occur; the greater the compressive forces the greater the deformity
What is the pathophysiology behind structural scoliosis?
rotation of the spine itself
What is the pathophysiology behind non-structural scoliosis?
rotation due to reasons other than spine (pain, posture, leg discrepancy)
What are some clinical manifestations of scoliosis?
- spine curvature, rounded shoulders, prominence of one hip, rib prominence
- non-structural scoliosis can be rectified with traction or supine position
- structural scoliosis compromises alveolar ventilation
What are some anesthetic implications of scoliosis?
- not associated with sensory or motor deficit
- respiratory dysfunction occurs - reduce alveolar ventilation - may reduce effectiveness of mechanical ventilation
- associated with increased risk of mitral valve prolapse, increased pulmonary resistance and pulmonary hypertension
- spine curvature may impact location of spinal anesthesia needle
- kyphosis is a posterior rotation of spine and kyphoscoliosis is both a posterior and lateral curvature of spine
What is the pathophysiology behind ankylosing spondylitis?
chronic inflammatory joint disease cause by inflammation at various regions within a joint (primarily vertebral joints); leads to joint remodeling; stiffening and/or fusion of spine and sacroiliac joints results; genetic predisposition; autoimmune disease attacks antigens on cartilage
What are some of the clinical manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis?
- low back pain and stiffness is an early sign (mid 20’s)
- restricted motion of the spine occurs
- reflex muscle spasms may occur
- chest movement can become restricted