Neurology Flashcards
possible viral etiology for bells palsy
HSV
common preceding event for bells palsy
URI
hallmark presentation of bells palsy
-sudden onset of unilateral facial weakness/paralysis of upper and lower parts of the face
-unable to wrinke forehad and close one eye
how to differentiate bells palsy from stroke
stroke: pt can wrinkle forehad
bells palsy: forehead paralysis
consider _ dz with bells palsy pt’s
do NOT use _ if you suspect lyme dz
lyme
steroids
consider _ testing if bells palsy does not resolve w/in 10 days
EMG
tx for bells palsy
mc self resolves by 1 month
acute: steroids + acyclovir
nighttime eye patch to prevent corneal abrasion
surgical decompression of CN VII if paralysis progresses
47 yo in ED w. stiff neck, photophobia, severe HA that begin while she was gardening - she is in severe distress
cerebral aneurysm
pathophys of cerebral aneurysm
weak/bulging spot in wall of brain artery
classification of cerebral aneurysm based on diameter
small: <15 mm
large: 15-25 mm
giant: 25-50 mm
supergiant: > 50 mm
types of cerebral aneurysm
saccular (berry) - mc
fusiform
traumatic
mycotic
ruptured (AVM)
2 mc locations for saccular/berry aneurysms
- ACA
- ICA
mcc of SAH
berry aneurysm
dilation of the entire circumference of the BV
fusiform aneurysm
what type of cerebral aneurysm is caused by infected emboli
mycotic
6 rf for ruptured cerebral aneurysm
smoking
HTN
hypercholesterolemia
heavy etoh
polycystic kidney dz
coarctation of aorta
6 sx of ruptured cerebral aneurysm
sudden onset worst HA of life
n/v
sz
AMS
HTN
fever
less severe HA that precedes ruptured cerebral aneurysm
herald bleed
dx for cerebral aneurysm
gs: cerebral angiography
initial: non contrast head CT
LP
2 LP findings of ruptured cerebral aneurysm
elevated opening pressure
bloody fluid (xanthochromia) in all tubes
tx for cerebral aneurysm
surgical clipping vs endovascular coiling
2 types of CVA
ischemic - blockage
hemorrhagic - rupture
mc sx of CVA
contralateral paralysis
occular sx of CVA
amaurosis fugax (monocular blindness)
4 sx of MCA CVA
aphasia
hemiparesis
gaze preference
homonymous hemianopsia
3 sx of ACA CVA
leg paresis
hemiplegia
urinary incontinence
hallmark sx of PCA CVA
homonymous hemianopsia
5 sx of basilar artery CVA
coma
cranial n palsies
apnea
drop attack
vertico
what are lacunar infarcts
CVA in areas supplied by small perforating vessels
3 sx of lacunar infarcts
pure motor or sensory sx
dysarthria/clumsy hand syndrome
ataxic hemiparesis
3 rf for lacunar stroke
atherosclerosis
HTN
DM
initial imaging for CVA
CT w.o contrast
management of occlusive CVA’s
occlusive: IV tPA w.in 3-4.5 hr of sx onset
indication for endarterectomy
carotid a > 70% occluded
absolute contraindications to tPA (9)
-hemorrhagic stroke on CT
-hx of ICH
-sx of SAH
-neurosurgery, head trauma, or stroke in past 3 mos
-uncontrolled HTN (SBP > 185, DBP > 110)
-known AVM, neoplasm, or aneurysm
-active internal bleeding
-known bleeding diathesis (PLT<100,000, heparin w.in past 48 hr, elevated aPTT, current antocoags, INR > 1.7)
-BG < 50
45 yo M w. 4 week hx of recurrent nightly 1 hr HA that wake him up during the night - he describes them as a deep excruciating burning sensation centered behind the left eye; he has associated watery eyes/nasal discharge and a sensation of warmth in his face
cluster HA
tx for cluster HA
100% O2 at 6-12 L/min for 15 min
imitrex
glasgow coma score
glasgow coma score < _ = coma
9
idiopathic pain syndrome that causes continuous pain disproportionate to the any inciting event
complex regional pain syndrome
describe the pain w. complex regional pain syndrome
non dermatomal
disproportionate to the injury
budapest criteria for complex regional pain syndrome
at least 1 sx in 3/4 four categories:
-sensory: hyperalgesia and/or allodynia
-vasomotor: skin, temp, color, asymmetry
-sudomotor/edema: edema, sweating
-motor/trophic: decreased ROM or motor dysfxn and/or hair/skin/nail changes
tx for complex regional pain syndrome
stage 1: gabapentin, amitryptiline, bisphosphonates
stage 2: add steroids
stage 3: consult pain management specialist - regional n block/spinal cord stimulators
transient, traumatic brain dysfxn
concussion/mTBI
6 main sx of concussion
confusion
memory loss
LOC
HA
dizzy
n/v
clinical definition of concussion/mTBI
-glasgow coma score 13-15 30 mins after injury
-conscious loss < 30 min
post traumatic amnesia < 24 hr
-other transient neuro abnl’s
what tool is used to determine if peds should get imaging post mTBI
PECARN
management of mTBI
-2-3 days of physical/cognitive rest
-return to school 2-3 days post injury
-gradual reintro of activity that does not worsen sx
-return to regular activities when able to do all activities w.o experiencing any sx
-limit caffeine
acute reversible cognitive dysfxn 2/2 to some underlying medical condition
delirium
mc type of hallucination associated w. delirium
visual
3 rf for delirium
post surgery for heart dz
DM
etoh abuse
main diff btw delirium and dementia
derlirium is usually reversible
mc presentation of AMS in the inpatient setting
delirium
mcc of delirium
etoh abuse
delirium caused by acute hyperthyroidism is called
thyroid storm
underlying conditions associated w. delirium (7)
UTI
PNA
metabolic changes
CVA
MI
TBI
meds
3 meds known to cause delirium
anticholinergics
benzos
opioids
workup for delirium should include
MMSE/MOCA
B12/folate
LP if febrile
pharm management of acute agitation/psychosis in derlirious pt
haldol
long term impaired memory dz that is usually irreversible - represents a marked deterioration from previous level of fxn
neurocognitive d.o
2 mc types of neurocognitive d.o
- alzheimer’s
- vascular dz
pathophys of alzheimers
beta amyloid plaques
neurofibrillary tangles
pharm management of alzheimer’s
anticholinesterase drugs:
tacrine
donepezil
rf for vascular disease
arteriosclerotic small vessel dz
vascular dz is mc associated w. a
CVA
hallmark presentation of vascular dz
-stepwise deterioration w. periods of clinical plateaus
-may involve sudden decline
mainstay of vascular dz management
bp control
neurocognitive d.o characterized by language difficulty, personality changes, and behavioral disturbances
frontotemporal lobar degeneration
neurocognitive d.o associated w. parkinsonian sx, hallucinations, gait difficulties, and falls
lewy body dz
t/f: neurocognitive d.o are rarely associated w. hallucinations
t!
if it is, think lewy body dz
neurocognitive d.o associated w. HIV infxn is characterized by
memory deficit
impaired executive fxn’ing
poor attention/concentration
apathy
imaging findings of HIV cognitive decline
cerebral atrophy
acute inflammation of the brain, often due to bacterial/viral infxn or possibly autoimmune d.o
encephalitis
mcc of encephalitis
HSV
immunocompromised: CMV
5 sx of encephalitis
fever
HA
AMS
sz
exanthema
how is encephalitis differentiated from meningitis
altered brain fxn’ing w. encephalitis
work up for encephalitis
LP
MRI
PCR
shaking that occurs w. simple tastsk like tying shoes, writing, shaving, or holding hands against gravity
essential tremor