Neurology Flashcards
Hearing loss severity
Mild: 26-40 db Moderate: 40-55 db Moderate-severe: 55-70 db Severe: 70-90 db Profound: >90 db
Molecule most rapidly depleted after neuronal injury

Phosphocreatine
Necrosis (Asphyxia)
- Hypoxia/glucose deprivation disrupt cellular hemostasis and ATP depletion
- Loss of Na/K-ATPase -> membrane depolarization, influx of Na, Ca, H2O (cell swelling)
- Excess extracellular glutamate increases Ca entry into cells
- Activation of phospholipases, xanthine oxidase, nNOS
Apoptosis (HIE)
Programmed cell death
1. Cytochrome C released from mitochondria activates caspase 8 & 9
2. Cell death by activation of caspases and endonucleases
3. Blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation
Therapeutic hypothermia can prevent this
Oxidative stress (HIE)
- Reperfusion phase yields 02 radicals, NO
- Radicals react with proteins, lipids, DNA producing oxidative damage
- Lack of scavengers (glutathione, SOD, catalase, cholesterol)

Failure to establish HR by 10 minutes results in ___
death or severe permanent disability
Best predictor of intrauterine hypoxia
Metabolic acidosis on cord gas
Best predictor of long-term outcome in asphyxia
Requirement for tube feeding at two weeks of age
Long-term complications of kernicterus
TEAM (it takes a team to treat these babies) Teeth (dental enamel hypoplasia) Eye (upward gaze palsy) Auditory (aud neuropathy) Movement (athetoid CP)
Minimal neuronal injury
Minimal ATP reduction followed by recovery
Moderate neuronal injury
Biphasic depletion
Apoptosis
Severe neuronal injury
Energy failure with predominant necrosis
 Cerebral blood flow autoregulation
With decreasing gestational age, mean arterial pressure values approach the lower limits
CO2 and cerebral blood flow
Increased CO2 -> increased CBF (dilates blood vessels)
Decreased CO2 -> decreased CBS (constriction)
Arterial 02 content and cerebral blood flow
Increased O2 -> decreased CBF
Decreased O2 -> increased CBF
Glucose and cerebral blood flow
Increased glucose -> decreased CBF
Decreased glucose -> increased CBF
Calcium and cerebral blood flow
Increased calcium -> decreased CBF
Decreased calcium -> increased CBF
Prostaglandins and cerebral blood flow
Increased prostaglandins -> increased CBF
Decreased prostaglandins -> decreased CBF
CBF ___ with postnatal age
Increases
Normal intracranial pressure
30-70 mmH2O
Causes of increased intracranial pressure
Major intracranial hemorrhages Post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus Seizures Pneumothorax Tracheal suctioning
Germinal matrix
Site of neuronal precursors between 10-20 weeks gestation
3rd trimester becomes site of glial precursors
When does germinal matrix involute
By 36 weeks
Intravascular factors and IVH
Increase or decrease in CBF
Fluctuating CBF
Platelet and coagulation problems
Extravascular factors and IVH
Deficient vascular support (decreased astrocytes)
Fibrinolytic activity
Postnatal decrease in tissue pressure
Cerebral autoregulation
Maintain stable cerebral blood flow in face of altering perfusion pressure
When does cerebral autoregulation fail?
High PCO2 (>70)
After hypoxia/ischemia
Mechanism of brain injury in IVH
Hypoxic ischemic injury Distraction of germinal matrix/glial precursors Periventricular hemorrhagic infarct PVL PHH
IVH presentation: catastrophic syndrome
Deterioration in minutes to hours
Coma, respiratory abnormalities, generalized seizures, pupils fixed to light
Dropping hematocrit, bulging fontanelle, hypotension, metabolic acidosis
IVH presentation: saltatory syndrome
More subtle
Alteration in consciousness, hypotonia, respiratory problems
Evolves over several hours to days
IVH presentation: clinically silent
25-50% infants with IVH may fail to display a distinct constellation of signs indicative of the lesion
Why is grade 4 IVH different?
Venous infarction - pressure from IVH impedes blood through venous system -> hypoperfusion and infarction
Blood in ventricle releases vasoactive compounds with the same conclusion
When does 90% of IVH occur?
First three days of life
Percentage of neonates with grade 1/2 IVH with developmental abnormalities
10%
Grade II worse than no hemorrhage
Percentage of neonates with grade 3 IVH with developmental abnormalities?
35-40%
Percentage of neonates with grade 4 IVH with developmental abnormalities?
80-90%
Causes of IVH in term neonates
Trauma and hypoxic events 50%
25% with no identifiable cause
Location of IVH in term neonates
Early - bleeding from choroid plexus or subependymal germinal matrix
Late - thalamus
Symptoms of IVH in term neonates
Irritability, stupor, apnea, seizures
Seizures are focal or multifocal and present in 65%
HIE symptoms birth to 12 hours
Decreased consciousness Ventilatory disturbances Intact pupillary responses Intact oculomotor responses (dolls eyes) Hypotonia Can see seizures
HIE symptoms 12-24 hrs.
Variable change in level of alertness Typically when we see seizures start Apneic spells Jitteriness Weakness
HIE symptoms 24-72 hrs.
Stupor or coma
Respiratory arrest
Brainstem ocular motor and pupillary disturbances
Can have catastrophic deterioration
HIE symptoms >72 hours
Persistent yet diminishing stupor
Disturbed sucking, swallowing, gag, tongue movements
Hypotonia
Weakness
How does therapeutic hypothermia help HIE?
Inhibition of apoptosis Reduction in cerebral metabolism Decreased leukotriene production Preservation of endogenous antioxidants Decreased intracellular acidosis Reduction in glutamate release Prevention of brain edema
Long-term outcomes with parasagittal injury
Vascular watershed areas
Spastic quadriparesis
Intellectual deficits
Long-term outcomes with selective neuronal necrosis
Cognitive deficits Spastic quadriparesis Choreoathetosis Dystonia Seizure disorder Ataxia Bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy
Long-term outcomes with basal ganglia injury
Onset of dystonia at 13 years (avg)
50% have history of normal neurological development
Intellect is normal in 80%
Progression of dystonia continues for a mean of 7years
Periventricular leukomalacia
Necrosis of white matter and a characteristic distribution with less severe injury peripherally
PVL is associated with injury to which cells?
Oligodendrocytes
Subdural hematoma
Due to tears and bridging veins
Can be due to traumatic delivery
Four categories of cerebellar hemorrhage
Primary
Venus infarction
Extension of IVH
Subarachnoid hemorrhage into cerebellum
Caput succedaneum
Molding of head
Crosses suture lines
Cephalohematoma
Subperiosteal bleeding
Limited by suture lines
Underlying linear skull fracture detected 10-25% of time

Subgaleal hemorrhage
Beneath aponeurosis covering scalp
Can spread beneath entire scalp and dissect into subQ tissue of the neck
Firm fluctuant mass, increases in size after birth
Diffuse neuronal injury
Insult is very severe and very prolonged
Cerebral cortex (nuclear) neuronal injury
Insult is moderate to severe and prolonged
Deep nuclear/brainstem neuronal injury
Insult is severe and abrupt
Ventral induction
5-6th week of gestation
Closure of neural tube -> procephalon/mesencephalon/
rhombencephalon
Associated with cleavage defects