Neurology Flashcards
what are the four strokes in the bamford classification
total anterior circulation
partial anterior circulation
lacunar
posterior circulation
3 criteria for the classification of a total or partial anterior circulation stroke
- unilateral weakness/sensory loss of the face, arms and leg
- homogenous hemianopia
- higher cerebral dysfunction (dysphagia, visuospatial disorder)
(2 or 3 of above)
which artery is compromised in an anterior circulation stroke
middle and anterior cerebral artery
4 criteria in a lacunar stroke
- pure sensory
- pure motor
- sensorimotor
- ataxic hemiparesis
(1 of above)
which arteries are compromised in a lacunar stroke
arteries in the thalamus, basal ganglia or internal capsule
5 criteria for posterior circulation stroke
- CN palsy + contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- conjugate eye movement disorder
- cerebellar dysfunction
- isolated HH/cortical blindness
which artery is compromised in a posterior circulation stroke
vertebrobasilar arteries
contralateral limb sensory loss
ipsilateral ataxia, nystagmus, dysphagia, facial numbness and horners
lateral medullary syndrome
which artery is compromised in lateral medullary syndrome
posterior inferior cerebellar artery
features of lateral medullary syndrome with added ipsilateral facial paralysis and deafness
lateral pontine syndrome
which artery is compromised in lateral pontine syndrome
anterior inferior cerebellar artery
ipsilateral CN3 palsy and contralateral weakness
weber’s syndrome
which artery is compromised in webers syndrome
midbrain branch of the posterior cerebral artery
locked in syndrome
lesion to basilar artery
reduced GCS, paralysis, bilateral pinpoint pupils
pontine haemorrhage
dominant hemisphere middle cerebral artery haemorrhage causes what
aphasia
imaging for stroke
non-contrast CT
hyperdense CT
haemorrhage
when do you give aspirin
after the CT
how do you assess carotid artery stenosis
USS
when would you perform a carotid endardectomy
more than 70% occlusion and symptomatic
management of a large stroke
thrombolysis and thrombectomy
management of TIA
300mg aspirin
driving rules after TIA
do not drive for 1 month
no need to inform DVLA
what medication combination would you give if clopidogrel was not tolerated for secondary prevention of stroke
aspirin and modified release dipyramidole
assessment score for stroke in ED
ROSIER
assessment score for ADL after stroke
barthel index
lesion in superior v inferior temporal gyrus
superior: wernicke
inferior: broca
fluent speech, poor repetition but comprehension intact
conduction aphasia
extradural v subdural haematoma on CT
extradural: biconvex does not cross suture lines
subdural: cresent and crosses suture lines
3 causes of a chronic subdural haematoma
alcoholic, elderly, shaken baby
cause of an acute subdural haematoma
high impact injury - risk of herniation
how do you differentiate between an acute and chronic subdural haematoma
chronic is hypodense (dark)
acute is hyperdense
what veins are damaged in a subdural haematoma
bridging veins
ipsilateral down and out eye
dilated pupil (mydriasis) and ptosis
third nerve palsy
cause of a painful third nerve palsy
posterior communicating artery aneurysm
decreased abduction and horizontal diplopia
sixth nerve palsy
cause of a sixth nerve palsy
raised ICP (long course of nerve) from tumour
unilateral throbbing and recurrent headache with aura, nausea and photosensitivity which impacts ADL and is associated with menstruation
migraine
prophylaxis and treatment for migraine
prophylaxis: propranolol or topiramate
treatment: triptan
side effect and contraindication for triptans
throat/chest tightness
CVD
recurrent bilateral headache like a band which does not impact ADL
tension headache
15-20 minute severe headache occurring 1-2x daily for 4-12 weeks associated with lacrimation and red painful eyes
cluster headache
3 RF for cluster headache
male, alcohol, smoking
treatment and prophylaxis for cluster headaches
treatment: oxygen and SC sumatriptan
prophylaxis: verapamil
rapid onset unilateral headache in a 60y/o associated with temporal tenderness and jaw claudication
temporal arteritis
marker for temporal arteritis
ESR
sharp unilateral facial pain triggered by chewing or touching the face
trigeminal neuralgia
how do you manage a medication overuse headache
stop simple analgesia and triptans immediately
withdraw opioids slowly
how many days of headache is needed for the diagnosis of a medication overuse headache
15 days a month
sudden onset headache with nausea, vomiting and LOC
venous sinus thrombus
investigation and treatment for venous sinus thrombosis
MRI venography and LMWH
headache worse on standing, associated with marfans and LP and treated with caffeine and fluids
spontaneous intracranial hypertension from CSF leak
obese young female with headache and blurred vision
perhaps taking COCP, tetracyclines, steroids, lithium, vitamin A or who is pregnant
idiopathic intracranial hypertension
treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension
weight loss, diuretics, LP, surgery, topiramate, acetylzolamide
iatrogenic cause of a low pressure headache
LP
sudden onset headache and visual field defect with signs of pituitary deficiency such as low blood pressure
pituitary apoplexy
treatment of pituitary apoplexy
urgent steroids
benign tumour from the meninges with well defined borders
meningioma
vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of corneal reflex
acoustic neuroma
vestibular schwannoma
investigations for acoustic neuroma
MRI of cerebellopontine angle and audiogram
pus covered by pyogenic membrane in brain
brain abscess
treatment of brain abscess
IV cef and metro
confusion, gait ataxia, nystagmus and opthalmoplegia
wernickes encephalopathy
amnesia and confabulation
korsakoff syndrome
?CSF from nose or ears
check glucose level
urinary incontinence, gait abnormality and dementia
normal pressure hydrocephalus
ventricle size in normal pressure hydrocephalus
increased
most common complication of meningitis
sensorineural hearing loss
most common primary for brain mets
lung
no improvement in facial paralysis from bells palsy in 3w
urgent referral to ENT
facial nerve palsy and increased size of parotid gland
sarcoidosis
at what GCS should you intubate
8
GCS
E = 4
V = 5
M = 6
take the best response
role of controlled hyperventilation
reduces carbon dioxide which causes vasoconstriction and reduced ICP
physiological response to raised ICP
cushings reflex
blood pressure, heart rate and pulse pressure in the cushings reflex
bp raised
HR reduced
wide pulse pressure
seizure in which lobe lasts for 1 minute, associated with automatisms (lip smacking), aura, dejavu, hallucinations and LOC
temporal lobe
seizure in which lobe causes motor symptoms
e.g. head/leg movements, posturing, post-ictal weakness, jacksonian march (clonic movements)
frontal lobe