NEUROLOGY Flashcards
what is the second most common cause of death worldwide?
stroke
where are strokes most common in the world?
middle east
what percentage of UK deaths are stroke?
a) 4%
b) 12%
c) 26%
d) 40%
b) 12%
what type are 80% of strokes?
thromboembolic infarction
what type are 10% of strokes?
intracranial haemorrhage
give 3 causes of intracranial haemorrhage
hypertension
berry aneurysm burst
trauma
ehlers-danlos
what causes 5% of stroke?
SA haemorrhage
give 2 causes of TIA
micro embolism
fall in cerebral perfusion
which type of stroke ONLY would you get a headache for?
haemorrhage
what classifies a TIA?
lasting less that 24 hours
what is recovery like for a TIA?
complete
on what side of the body might you expect weakness and numbness in a stroke?
contralateral to stroke side
what visual loss might you expect in a stroke?
homonymous hemianopia
give neurological symptoms you might expect in a stroke
nystagmus
horner’s
dysphagia
Visual spacial disturbance
in what instance could you get dysarthria in stroke?
LHS only as speech on that side
what might happen to a patient’s reflexes over the course of a stroke?
areflexia to spasticity over time
a brainstem infarct might result in what syndrome?
locked in
a cerebellar infarct might result in what syndrome?
ataxia
give 3 blood related risk factors for stroke
hyper coagulation
thrombocythaemia
thrombophilia
What are the
a) vascular
b) cardiovascular
risk factors for stroke?
a) PVD, carotid bruit
b) heart disease (AF etc), endocarditis
What are the lifestyle risk factors for stroke?
Obesity Smocking Diet Hyperlipidaemia High alcohol intake
give a drug risk factor for stroke
COCP
describe the physiological area of an infarct stroke
central infarcted area surrounded by swollen ischaemic area (penumbra) which can regain function
hypoxia > fall in ATP > glutamate > calcium channels open > free radical release > inflammation and necrosis is the mechanism for what type of stroke?
infarct
what does TACI stand for
total anterior cerebral infarction
what are the 4 symptoms present in TACI?
hemiplegia
dysphagia
hemianopia
dysphasia
what is a PACI and its symptoms?
partial anterior cerebral infarction, 2 of TACI symptoms
what is a LACI?
lacunar cerebral infactrion
what part of the brain does a LACI affect?
small deep arteries
give 3 symptoms of LACI
weakness
hemiplegia
mixed sensory/motor
what symptoms will you never get in a LACI?
hemianopia or other higher cortical loss
which arteries could cause a PoCI?
vertebral
basillar
Posterior cerebral arteries
what symptoms could you get with a PoCI?
ataxia brainstem loss pathway loss visual loss Memory loss
how would you use a CT to distinguish different types of a stroke?
haemorrhage (white)
infarct (dark)
what imaging would you use to diagnose an early infarct?
MRI
which of these symptoms would not indicate a poor prognosis for a stroke?
a) incontinence
b) dense hemiplegia
c) impaired consciousness
d) persistant dysphagia
e) numbness on one side
e) numbness on one side
Give example of drug used for thrombolysis and total dose?
within what time frame does it need to be given?
Alteplase (t-PA)= 0.9mg/kg
Be given with 4.5 hours of the stroke occuring
Following a stroke what treatment should be given long term to prevent any future complications?
Antihypertensives
Antiplatelet therapy = 75mg of Aspirin and Clopidogrel (dipridamole alternative)
Anticoagulant =heparin and warfarin
Statin
what surgery might you suggest in an ischaemic stroke?
internal carotid endarterectomy (in stenosis)
why might you give dexamethasone in a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage?
reduce cerebral oedema
what percentage of patients have another stroke after 5 years?
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 30%
d) 40%
c) 30%
what percentage of stroke patients die within 2 years?
a) 5%
b) 15%
c) 25%
d) 35%
c) 25%
how many SAH stroke patients die before they reach hospital?
1/2
What causes 70% of all subarachnoid haemorrhage?
berry aneurysm
What are the risk factors for berry aneurysm
Polycystic kidneys coarctation of aorta ehlers-danlos Infective endocarditis FHx Smocking, alcohol misusse, illegal drug use Hypertension
what causes 15% of sub arachnoid haemorrhages?
arteriovenous malformations
what infective disease can increase the risk of having a SAH?
infective endocarditis
what causes 20% of SAHs?
unknown cause
how is the headache of a SAH described?
thunderclap
where is the pain often in a SAH?
occipital region
give 3 symptoms of SAH
vomiting
collapse/seizure
coma
neck stiffness
what is Kernig’s sign? when does it develop in SAH?
develops 6 hours after SAH
can’t extend knee when hip and knee flexed
name 3 eye changes you might see in a SAH
retinal/subhyaloid haemorrhage
focal neurology
pupillary changes (CN3 palsy)
what gender, age and ethnicity are SAH more likely to affect?
women
Median age is 50 and less than 60
Afro-carribean
give 2 lifestyle risk factors for SAH
smoking
alcohol misuse
give 3 circulatory risk factors for SAH
hypertension
bleeding disorders
SIze of the aneurysm
give a hormonal risk factor for SAH
post-menopause (less oestrogen)
does SAH have a familial factor?
yes
what medical imaging technique detects 90% of SAHs?
CT
what diagnostic technique would be recommended after 12 hours for SAH investigation?
lumbar puncture
evidence of what in the CSF sample from lumbar puncture would indicate that a SAH had occurred?
billirubin (xanthochromia ) = broken down RBC
give 4 differential diagnoses for SAH
meningitis migraine Tension headache intracranial bleeds cortical vein thrombosis
what surgical treatment would you recommend for a patient with SAH?
clipping/coiling
what 2 drugs would you give for a patient with SAH and why?
calcium channel blocker (nimodipine) - prevents vasospasm
analgesia - pain
what complication is a cause of death in 20% of SAH patients?
re-bleed
give 3 other complications for SAH
cerebral ischaemia due to vasospasm
cortical vein thrombosis
Hydrocephalus
what causes peripheral neuropathy?
nerve lesions
give 5 causes of nerve lesions in peripheral neuropathy
B12 and folate deficiency causing severe anaemia CKd trauma DM leprosy
what is the name for when two or more peripheral nerves have lesions?
mononeuritis complex
what is the WARDS PLC pneumonic for the causes of mononeuritis complex?
wengener's granulomatosis ( inflammed blood vessels) amyloidosis rheumatoid arthritis diabetes mellitus sarcoidosis polyarteritis nodosa ( vasculitis of medium sized vessels) leprosy carcinomatosis
give 4 symptoms of autonomic nerve lesions
postural hypotension impotence reduced sweating diarrhoea urinary retention Horner's
what is radiculopathy?
lesions of nerve roots and plexus
what is myelopathy?
lesions in spinal cord
what action is lost in a radial nerve lesion (C5-T1)
Wrist drop and can’t open fist (weakness of finger extension)
which muscles would a sciatic nerve lesion affect?
hamstring
muscles below knee
what 3 symptoms would you get with a common fibular nerve lesion?
foot drop, weakness of eversion and sensory loss on dorsum
what 3 symptoms would you get with tibial nerve loss?
can’t invert foot
can’t flex toes
sensory loss on sole
what classic symptoms might you get on hands and feet with polyneuropathies?
glove/stocking anaesthesia
what is guillain-barre?
demyelinating motor neurons
which muscles does guillan-barre affect?
Start in feet and hands then spread to arms and legs.
Later spread to lungs (cause of death)
what is the treatment for guillan-barre?
intubate
IV immunoglobulin
is recovery for Guillain-barre good or bad?
good
what is the main cause for charcot-marie-tooth?
Group of inherited genetic conditions that damage the peripheral nerves
what types of polyneuropathy are present in charcot-marie-tooth?
motor and sensory (generalised weakness and loss of sensation)
Also get high arched foot and abnormal gait
name one lifestyle cause of polyneuropathy
alcohol abuse
name 2 endocrine causes of polyneuropathy
diabetes
hypothyroidism
name 3 infective causes of polyneuropathy
leprosy
syphillis
lyme’s disease
HIV
name a renal cause of polyneuropathy
renal failure
what causes epilepsy/seizures?
intermittent abnormal electrical activity in the brain
what is the cause of 2/3 of epilepsy and seizures?
idiopathic
give 5 causes of symptomatic epilepsy
cortical scarring developmental severe head injury stroke hippocampal sclerosis Alcohol and drug induce meningitis
give 4 causes of non-epileptic seizures
trauma stroke haemorrhage increased ICP alcohol/withdrawal BZDP withdrawal
what are seizures often preceded by?
aura
what is the difference between a tonic and a clonic seizure?
tonic = stiff clonic = jerky
what is a myoclonic seizure?
one sudden jerk of a muscle group while the patient is still awake
a seizure in which area of the brain would be characterised by a deja vu, rising feeling in stomach, strange taste and smell and intense joy or fear?
temporal
in which area of the brain would a seizure be characterised by twitching and a wave?
frontal
in which area of the brain would a seizure be characterised by numbness, tingling, and a feeling that one limb is bigger or smaller than the others?
parietal
in which area of the brain would a seizure be characterised by flashing lights and visual hallucinations?
occipital