Neurology Flashcards
What is the most common mechanism of stroke?
Ischaemic (85%)
What does FAST stand for?
Face
Arms
Speech
Time
What are the signs of an ACA stroke?
Contralateral weakness
Contralateral sensory loss/sensory inattention
Dysarthria
Dysphasia (receptive, expressive)
Homonymous
Hemianopia/visual inattention
Higher cortical dysfunction
How long should you avoid driving following a TIA?
One month - you must inform the DVLA of the TIA
What does the MCA supply?
Weakness and sensory loss to arms and face
What are the signs of an ACA stroke?
Weakness and sensory loss to feet and legs
Incontinence
List 2 causes of an ischaemic stroke
- Embolic - products, pregnancy (placenta - rare)
- Atherosclerosis
- Vasculitis
- Thrombophillia
- Shock - watershed
What is the pharmacology of anticoagulants?
- Heparin, LMWH (dalteparin)
Act on the coagulation cascade (involved in the formation of fibrin).
Bind to antithrombin 3, accelerates its action, resulting in blocking 10a and thrombin.
- NOAC - dabigatran, apixaban
What is the pharamoclogy of antiplatelets?
- Aspirin (COX-1 inhib), clopidogerol (P2Y12)
Prevent platelets from adhering together and therefore prevent clots.
How does aspirin work?
COX-1 Inhibitor
Prevent the release of TXA
What score is used to estimate the risk of a stroke after a TIA?
Can you list the
ABCD2
What score is used to estimate the risk of a stroke after a TIA?
Can you list the features of this
ABCD2
Age Blood pressure Clinical features Duration of symptoms Diabetic?
What is considered a high risk ABCD2 score?
> 6
How would you treat a TIA?
Aspirin
Modify risk factors - stop smoking, reduce BP, lower lipid levels
How would you treat an ischaemic stroke?
- Thrombolysis < 4.5 hours. tpA - altepase.
- Carotid endartectomy
- Coil
What disease is commonly linked to berry aneurysms?
Polycystic kidney disease
What is the most common cause of a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Berry aneurysm rupture
What signs are suggestive of a haemorrhagic stroke over an ischaemic stroke?
Headache, meningism, coma
What is a sentinel bleed?
Prewarning symptoms to SAH.
Headache, dizziness, orbital pain, visual loss.
How would you treat an SAH?
Stop the bleeding - clip / coil, and take off blood thinners.
Stop vasospasm - Ca2+ blocker - nimodipine.
When should you do a lumbar puncture on someone who has had a haemorrhagic stroke?
> 12 hours most sensitive
Blood broken down into billirubin - yellow (xanthecromia), therefore you know the result isnt from blood you may have put into the CSF from trauma performing the LP.
What must you NOT give patients who have had a haemorrhagic stroke?
Antiplatelets / anticoagulants - increase the bleeding.
How can you tell the difference between a subdrual and extradural haemorrhage?
CT
- E for Eye Shaped
- B for bannana shaped (subdural)
What is the mechanism behind a subdural stroke?
Bridging veins
Common in the elderly, young babies that have been shaken, acceleration injury
What is the mechanism behind an extradural stroke?
Temporal / parietal bone fracture - middle meningeal artery
What signs would you see in someone that has had a extradural haemorrhage?
LUCID PERIOD - fluctuating levels of conciousness straight after the accident and then appearing ‘fine’ and concious. Will rapidly progress to coma as the bleeding continues and continue to increase the pressure inside the skull.
What investigation is contraidnicated in patients who have had an extradural haemorrhage and why?
- Lumbar puncture - drop CSF pressure that may speed up / result in brain herniation.
Where do most berry aneursyms occur?
Circle of willis
Which side of the body would a stroke on the LEFT SIDE of the brain affect?
RIGHT side of the body
What are the four cardinal features of horners syndrome?
- Cosntricted pupil
- Drooping of the upper eyelid
- Absense of sweating on the face
- Sunken eye
Damage to the SYMPATHETIC nerves on the SAME SIDE as the lesion
What would you see in a third nerve palsy?
Out and down
What would you see in a forth nerve palsy?
often see turning of the head to compensate
Supplies the superior oblique: Up and in
What would you see in a sixth nerve palsy?
turns inwards
List 3 causes of horners syndrome
- Pancoast tumour (associated with arm, shoulder or hand pain)
- MS
- Stroke
- Herpes zoster infection
- Trauma
- Syringomyelia
- Temporal arteritis
What is bells palsy?
Paralysis of one half of the face - Inability to control muscles on the AFFECTED SIDE
- FACIAL NERVE
- Virus - causes inflammation of the nerve, cutting off the blood supply when it passes through the canal
How would you treat bells palsy?
Steroids for inflammation
Eye drops to protect the eye from drying up