Neurology Flashcards
A patient presents with transient loss of consciousness. What needs to be elicited in the hx?
Witness!
1) Clarify LOC: Was it actually LOC? or light headedness, dizziness, falling (PE, aortic dissection, orthostatic hypothension)
2) Memory of episode: Remember whole episode? Parts of it? for how long?
3) Before: When? Where? Posture (sitting, standing, walking)? Precipitating events? Warning signs (visual disturbance, light headedness, sweating)?
4) During: Duration? Jerking (focal or generalised)? Eyes (open or closed)? Tongue biting? Incontinence? Injury?
5) After? Conscious (directly after or later)? Disorientation/confusion? Drowsiness? Weakness (uni/bilateral)
6) Rule out vasovagal/orthostatic hypotension
How is vasovagal or orthostatic hypotension ruled out when taking a history of transient loss of conciousness?
Has it happened before? (when taking bloods, urinating, opening bowels, standing for extended periods of time)
Relieved by lying down?
Precipitated by feeling hot or sweaty?
With a transient loss of consciousness what examinations would you perform?
Vitals
Cardiology exam
Neurological exam upper and lower limb sensory and motor
Cranial nerve exam
+/- resp
What ECG finding is in this image?
What leads would you see this in?
Brugada Coves in V1-V3
Broad P wave with some PQ prolongation
J point elevation
Coved ST segment elevation
Inverted T wave
Here are all the ECG findings associated with LOC
Here is a delta wave. Where is this seen?
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Signifying Ventricular pre-excitation
Here are all the ECG findings associated with LOC
A patient comes with an episode of LOC. on examination there are residual neurological signs. What does this indicate? What is the next course of action?
This may be stroke => admit urgently
A patient presents with transient LOC. Give 5 differentials
These can apply to anything in neuro rly
Vasovagal syncope
Hypoglycemia
Stroke/TIA
Space-occupying lesion
Epilepsy
Dizziness
Orthostatic hypotension
Panic attacks/hyperventilation
Abnormal perceptions (hallucinations) -doesnt count
Vasovagal syncope occurs when there is raised vagal activity leading to peripheral vasodilation + bradycardia => venous pooling => postural hypotension. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Once there are no other diagnoses, what is required to confirm the diagnosis?
1 of the 3Ps
1) Posture - Prolonged standing before event, relieved by sitting
2) Provoking factors - Pain or medical procedure (taking bloods)
3) Prodromal symptoms -> sweating, feeling warm/hot before event
Syncope that occurs when opening the bowel is called?
Situational syncope
What are the different ways hypoglycaemia may present with LOC?
DM patients on insulin or hypoglycaemic meds (sulfonylureases)
Initially symptoms of hypoglycemia
=> Autonomic changes (pallor sweating, tachycardia) + confusion
Then coma
Then seizures
You are asked to take a history of a patient with a headache. How would you approach it and what would you elicit?
If nothing else, do Socrates + before,during,after (and remember to separate the types)
1) Types -> 1 type of headache or more? take a separate history for each
2) Time -> When? How often? Pattern (episodic or constant or daily), Duration
3) Character -> Site of pain and quality
4) Associated sx -> Nausea, vomititng, visual disturbance, weakness, paraesthesia
5) Predisposing/triggering factors (eg. related to period, loud noises, bright lights)
6) Response -> How do you deal with it e.g. medication or sitting in a quiet room
7) QoL -> Affecting school, work, relationships
8) Must ask: Headaches, funny fits and turns, visual disturbance
while conducting an exam on a patient with headache, you note tenderness over the temporal area. What is this consistent with>
GCA or temporal arteritis
What must be done when asked for examination of a headache
Neuro exam
Cranial nerve exam
Examine the fundus and visual acuity
Palpation of temporal regions (GCA/temporal arteritis), sinuses and neck (stiffness for meningitis)
Check for rash
Give 5 red flags in headache that warrant urgent referral (dont actually memorize)
Meningitis (fever, worsening headache, purpuric non-blanching rash)
Papilloedema
Reduced consciousness
Recent head injury
Suspected temporal arteritis
Weight loss + visual disturbance (pituitary cancer)
Suspected acute glaucoma (e.g. steroids)
Atypical migraine (e.g. with hemiparesis)
Thunderclap headache (Subarachnoid haemorrhage)
A patient presents with a headache, what are your differentials
Acute New Headache:
1) Meningitis
2) Encephalitis
3) Subarachnoid haemorrhage/Thunderclap headache
4) Head injury (epidural/subdural)
5) Sinusitis
Acute recurrent headache:
1) Migraine
2) Cluster headaches
3) Trigeminal neuralgia
4) Glaucoma
Chronic Headache
1) Tension headache
2) GCA/Temporal arteritis
3) Cervicogenic
4) Malignancy (pituitary)
What ddx for headache is associated with fever, photophobia and rash
Meningitis
What ddx for headache is associated with fever, confusion, reduced GCS
Encephalitis
What ddx for headache is associated with a very severe sudden onset headache
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (Thunderclap headache)
What ddx for headache is associated with an aura, visual disturbances and nausea
Migraine
What ddx for headache is associated with reduced GCS, Lucidity, amnesia?
Head injury leading to epidural/subdural haemorrhage
What ddx for headache is associated with extremely painful headaches focused around 1 eye with associated autonomic symptoms on that side including ptosis, miosis, red, watery eye, runny blocked nose and forehead sweating. It is predictable and always occurs after falling asleep and after drinking alcohol. The headaches last 15minutes to 3 hours. They occur once daily (can occur as little as once weekly).
Cluster headaches
What ddx for headache is associated with red eye, haloes, and reduced visual acuity
Glaucoma
What ddx for headache is associated with stabbing pain around the TMJ
Trigeminal neuralgia
What ddx for headache is associated with pain like a band around the head, brought on by stress and anxiety. It is a bilateral, pressing, tightening pain of moderate intensity.
No vomiting
Does not prohibit daily activities.
Tension headache
What ddx for headache is associated with pain like band from the neck to the forehead + scalp tenderness
Cervicogenic
What ddx for headache is associated with diplopia?
Malignancy (pituitary)
What ddx for headache is associated with scalp tenderness, raised ESR in a patient >50
GCA/temporal arteritis
What is considered within the Chronic Disease Management Criteria
Any patient aged >18 with
1) A.fib
2) Asthma
3) COPD
4) Diabetes
5) Ischemic heart disease
6) HF
7) Stroke/TIA
Give 3 examples of typical and atypical auras
Typical: Lasting <60 minutes
Visual sx (flickering lights, spots, and LOV)
Sensory sx (paresthesia and numbness)
Speech disturbance
Atypical: Motor weakness, double vision, unilateral visual sx, Poor balance, LOC
What is the typical presentation of a migraine
Moderate to severe unilateral/bilateral throbbing/pulsating headache lasting 4-72 hours.
May occur with or without aura (flickering lights, spots, blurring…)
May also have nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/loud noise
What is the pathophysiology of Migraine
Disturbance of cerebral blood flow under the influence of Serotonin
What is the difference between episodic and chronic migraine?
Episodic = <15d/month
Chronic = >15d/month for >3 months
What are 5HT1 agonists? Give an example
Triptans, serotonin receptor agonist, Sumatriptan
What is the management of an acute migraine attack?
Combination therapy including
1) Triptan (Sumatriptan)
2) NSAID/Paracetamol
3) Antiemetic (metoclopramide)