Neurology Flashcards
(98 cards)
What is a TIA?
Transient ishcaemia with no infarct and no permanent neurological deficit. Lasts upto 24 hours, generally less than
What are further complication risks with TIA?
2% risk of stroke in 2months if treated within 72hrs.
How do you treat TIA?
Treat with clopidogrel 75mg/d, treat BP and lipids, modify SNAP and consider endarterectomy
What is a stroke?
If acute neurologic deficits persist beyond 24 hours or are interrupted by death within that timeframe.
How common is an ischaemic stroke and what are the causes?
87% - loss of focal reigon of the brain
- Primary embolic - occlusion or critical stenosis. (carotid or cardiac in origin, artificial valves, CABG surg, DVT,, VSD, fat emboli, cncerm septic emboli (infective endocarditis)
- Systemic hypoperfusion - shock or rapid lowering of BP - watershed areas are vulnerable
- Central venous thrombosis
What is haemorrhagic transformation of stroke?
Bleeding into area of ischaemia - can occur in first few days of untreated stroke, often in first 24 hours in embolic stroke treated with coags
Risk factors for Cerebrovascular disease?
HTN (PmHx (TIA, CVD, PVD), DM, Smoking, obesity, HRT, Lipidaemia, Cancer, Old age, Male, Arrhythmia (AF)
10-25% of ischaemic strokes due to arrhythmia
What is the pathophysiology for Cerebrovascular disease?
Disease of blood vessels supplying the brain, with HTN as the most important cause – endothelial damage → collagen exposure → sustained prethrombotic state of carotid vessels → carotid atherosclerosis and stenosis. These vessels are now more sensitive to changes in BP – strokes when BP changes – ie waking up, excitation
Common site for carotid plaques?
Common/internal carotids – often at carotid bifurcation, Circle of Willis. Progressive atherosclerotic luminal stenosi
What does basal ganglia stroke present with? (what arteries are affected)
ICA → MCA → internal capsule, lenticulostriate arteries. These supply internal capsule white matter corticospinal efferents. Contralateral hemiparesis.
What is the ishcaemic cascade with hypoxia?
Excess glutamate released from tissue, lactic acid buildup, ↑apoptosis, oxygen free radicals released. Brain particularly vulnerable as it is completely reliant on aerobic metabolism.
What is the FAST acronym for patients having a stroke?
F = Facial weakness (droop), A = Arm weakness (drift), S = Speech difficulty (slur), and T = Time to act (priority of intervention)
3 cardinal features of Stroke/TIA?
Sudden onset facial weakness, Arm drift, abnormal speech - aphasia/slurring
What is amaurosis fugax?
(TIA sign: dimming) –> transient loss of vision. Embolic obstruction of centrinal retinal artery.
Vital to treat carotid artery disease!
LOC + N/V + Headache - more likely to be haemorrhagic or ischaemic?
Haemorrhagic!
Which artery is affected?
- Legs affected (contralateral lower limb), gait apraxia, personality changes (frontal lobe)
Anterior Cerebral artery!
Which artery is affected?
- Contralateral arms, face and eyes. Dysphasia if affected side is the dominant hemisphere!
Middle cerebral artery!
Which artery is affected?
- Eyes, vision loss
P (posterior) CA
Which artery is affected?
4S: Spinal nucleus of CNV, Spinothlamic, spinocerebellar, sympahetic (Horner’s)
Laterally medullary syndrome: PICA!
Which artery is affected?
4M’s: Ipslateral Tongue weakness, contralateral hemiplegia(medullary pyramid), Loss of discriminative touch - proprioception, vibration (Medial Laminiscus)
Anterior Spinal artery - Medial Medullary syndrome
What are the 4M’s:
- Motor pathway (corticospinal tract - contralateral weakness of arm and legs)
- Medial Meniscus - Contralateral loss of vibration and proprioception in the arm and leg
- Medial Longitudinal fasciculus -ipsilateral inter-nuclear ophthalmoplegia
(failure of adduction of the ipsilateral eye towards the nose and nystagmus in the opposite eye as it looks laterally) - Motor nucleus and nerve:
ipsilateral loss of the cranial nerve that is affected (3, 4, 6 or 12)
Anterior Spinal artery
The 4’s (side structures):
- Spinothalamic pathway - contralateral alteration of pain and temperature affecting the arm, leg and rarely the trunk
- Spinocerebellar pathway - ipslateral ataxia of the arm and leg
3.Sensory nucleus of the 5th cranial nerve -ipsilateral alteration of pain and temperature on the face in the distribution
of the 5th cranial nerve - Sympathetic pathway:
ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome, that is partial ptosis and a small pupil (miosis)
What happens if damage to CN 9 - Glossopharyngeal nerve
Ipslateral loss of pharnygeal sensation
What would happen if damage to vagus nerve?
Ipslateral palatal weakness