Neurology Flashcards
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - Pathophysiology
Focal, sudden onset, neurological deficit lasting <24hrs, with complete clinical recovery
Ischaemia, without infarction
Transient ischaemic attack - Causes
Thromboembolism (from carotids)
Cardioembolism
Transient ischaemic attack - Symptoms
Weakness in left arm
Slurred speech
Left sided facial droop
Transient ischaemic attack - Risk factors
Smoking
Alcohol
Obesity - exercise/diet
Transient ischaemic attack - Investigations
ABCD2 - Stroke risk score Carotid doppler (stenosis) CT angiography (stenosis)
Transient ischaemic attack - Treatment
Aspirin
Clopidogrel
Simvastatin
B-blocker (Atenolol)
Stroke - Pathophysiology
Rapid onset of neurological deficit caused by focal, cerebral, spinal or retinal infarction
If untreated within 24hrs leads to death
Stroke - Signs and symptoms
ACA (Anterior cerebral artery) - Frontal lobe - Drowsiness, logical thinking, personality
MCA (Middle cerebral artery) - Motor weakness, hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of body), sensory disturbances, aphasia (affected speech)
PCA (Posterior cerebral artery) - Contralateral hemianopia (blindness over half field of vision)
Stroke - Investigation
CT scan - check whether ischaemic or haemorrhagic
Stroke - Treatment
Ischaemic stroke - Aspirin/clopidogrel, IV altepase (thrombolysis)
Haemorrhagic - B-blocker (control BP), beriplex (if warfarin related), surgery
Rehab - Physio, OT
Lifestyle
Haemorrhage - Types
Extradural - Middle meningeal artery
Subdural - Bridging veins
Subarachnoid - Circle of Willis
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - Pathophysiology
Circle of Willis (subarachnoid)
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - Cause
Berry aneurysm causes spontaneous bleed in subarachnoid space
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - Symptoms
Sudden sharp pain in back of head
Neck stiffness
Systemically fine
Lower consciousness (raised ICP (intracranial pressure) due to artery rupture)
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - Investigations
CT
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - Treatment
Neurosurgery
Subdural haemorrhage - Pathophysiology
Rupture of bridging veins
Subdural haemorrhage - Cause
Head injury
Subdural haemorrhage - Symptoms
Fluctuating consciousness and headache due to raised ICP
Subdural haemorrhage - Investigations
CT - Crescent shaped collection of blood
Subdural haemorrhage - Treatment
Neurosurgery - Irrigation IV mannitol (reduce ICP)
Extradural haemorrhage - Pathophysiology/Cause
1) Head injury
2) Fracture in temporal/parietal bone
3) Rupture of middle meningeal artery
4) Rapid collection of blood in extradural space
Extradural haemorrhage - Symptoms
Decreased consciousness due to raised ICP
Extradural haemorrhage - Investgations
CT - Biconvex, hypodense haematoma
Extradural haemorrhage - Treatment
Neurosurgery - Irrigation IV mannitol (Reduce ICP)
Epilepsy - Pathophysiology
2 or more unprovoked seizures with 24hrs apart
Seizure - Recurrent tendency of spontaneous, abnormal electrical activity in part of the brain due to excessive hypersynchronous neuronal discharges
Epilepsy - 2 Types
Generalised - Whole cortex
Partial/focal - Lobe
Generalised epilepsy - Symptoms
1) Rigidity/sitffening
2) Rhythmic muscle jerking
3) Drowsiness, confusion and coma
Partial/focal epilepsy - Symptoms
Frontal lobe (motor) - Jacksonian march (seizure 'marches' up/down motor homonculus), limb paralysis Parietal lobe (sensory) - Numbness, tingling Temporal lobe (memory, emotion) - Hallucinations, out of body experience - fiddling
Differences between epilepsy and syncope
Seizure - Sudden onset, any position, falls backwards
Syncope - Sitting or standing, falls forwards
Epilepsy - Investgations
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
Epilepsy - Treatment
Emergency - IV lorazepam
Generalised - Sodium valporate
Partial/focal - Carbamezapine
Dementia - 4 Types (AVLF)
Alzheimer’s
Vascular
Lewy body
Fronto-temporal
Alzheimer’s - Onset
Gradual
Alzheimer’s - Signs and symptoms (4As)
Aphasia (speech)
Agnosia (sensation, recognition)
Apraxia (motor)
Amnesia (memory)
Alzheimer’s - Pathology
Degeneration of cerebral cortex with cortical atrophy
Vascular - Onset
Gradual or abrupt
Vascular - Signs and symptoms
Deterioration
Vascular - Pathology
Brain damage from cerebrovascular disease
Lewy body - Onset
Gradual
Lewy body - Signs and symptoms
Fluctuating cognition
Visuospatial impairment
Lewy body - Pathology
Deposition of abnormal proteins associated with parkinson’s disease
Fronto-temporal - Onset
Rapid progression
Fronto-temporal - Signs and symptoms
Behavioural and personality changes
Fronto-temporal - Pathology
Atrophy of fronto-temporal lobes
Dementia - Pathophysiology
A syndrome that causes memory loss, difficulties thinking, problem-solving, language
Dementia - Investigation
Clinical diagnosis
Mini-mental state exam (MMSE) - <17/30 = Serious cognitive impairment
Dementia - Treatment
Lifestyle
Social support
Rivastigmine (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)
Control CV risk factors
Differences between dementia and delirium
Delirium - Acute, fluctuating, altered consciousness, caused by stroke or infection
Dementia - Gradual, progressive, normal consciousness, caused by disorder
Headaches - 2 Types
Primary - Migraine, cluster, tension-type, trigeminal neuralgia
Secondary - GCA, meningitis, drug overuse
Migraine - Symptoms
Unilateral more commonly (can be bilateral)
Pulsating/throbbing
Lasts 4-72hrs
Moderate to severe pain
Migraine - Causes (CHOCOLATE)
Chocolate Hangovers Orgasms Cheese Oral contraceptive pill Lie-ins Alcohol Tummult (loud noises) Exercise
Migraine - Pathophysiology
1) Changes in brainstem blood flow
2) Unstable trigeminal nerve nucleus/nuclei in basal thalamus
3) Release of vasoactive neuropeptides (substance P)
4) Neurogenic inflammation, vasodilation
Migraine - Types
Migraine with aura
Migraine without aura
Migraine - Without aura - Symptoms
>5 Attacks Lasting between 4-72 hours Unilateral, pulsating, moderate/severe pain N&V Photophobia, phonophobia
Migraine - With aura - Symptoms
>2 Attacks Each aura symptom lasts up to an hour Visual abnormalities (zigzags, spots) Unilateral sensory (tingling, numbness) Aphasia Motor weakness Followed by headache
Migraine - Treatment
Avoid triggers
Sumatriptan (Triptan)
Prophylaxis definition
Preventative treatment
Tension headache - Symptoms
Lasts 30mins-7days Bilateral band around forehead Tight/pressing Lasts mins-days Mild/moderate pain Photophobia, phonophobia (only one, not both!) No N&V
Tension headache - Pathophysiology
Neurovascular irritation which refers to scalp muscles and soft tissues
Tension headache - Causes (MC SCOLD)
Missed meals Conflict Stress Clenched jaw Overexertion Lack of sleep Depression
Tension headache - Treatment
Amitriptyline (antidep)
Cluster headache - Symptoms
Unilateral Orbital, supraorbital or temporal pain Lasts 15mins-3hrs Severe pain Night/morning hours
Cluster headache - Treatment
Sumatriptan