Neurology Flashcards
The most common cause of death from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is: ____. When does this risk peak?
initial bleeding followed by rebleeding! Rebleeding peaks within 24 hours following initial hemorrhage.
cerebral artery vasospasm is a risk for: ____. When does vasospasm usually happen? and when does it peak? More blood?
asospasm, which is a risk factor for ischemia and neurologic deficit. Vasospasm typically develops by the third day and peaks within 5-10 days, and resolves by 10-14 days. More blood, more vasospasm
What are the 4 predictors that MG patients will require prolonged intubation?
- Duration of disease ≥ 72 months (≥ 6 years)**greatest value
- History of a chronic respiratory disease (e.g. asthma and COPD)
- Pyridostigmine dose of > 750 mg/day
- Vital capacity < 2.9 liters
MG: muscle weakness improved or worsened with use? MG Pathophys:
Worsened with use, improved with rest. Anesthetic plan: avoid neuromuscular blockers if you’re able. Short acting opioids like remifentanil are preferred. Decreased amount of ACh receptors.
MG: which muscle relaxants are they resistant to? Which ones to give less of? What about patients on cholinesterase inhibitors?
Mg patients are resistant to SUX, sensitive to other blockers. n addition, patients being treated with cholinesterase inhibitors will also have a prolonged response to succinylcholine (prolonged phase I blockade) due to impaired plasma cholinesterase function.
CPP should be maintained at:
CPP Formula:
50-70. Hypotension is NOT good in TBI patients Avoid going higher than 70 (could have ARDS) unless the patient is already doing that on their own.
CPP: MAP-ICP or CVP
Hyperventilation in TBI.
Not recommended to go to 25 or below.
When should intracranial pressure be treated?
Mild, moderate, and severe TBI:
When it goes above 20 mmHg
mild TBI is associated with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-15 and minimal to no loss of consciousness. A moderate TBI is associated with a GCS of 9-12 and a loss of consciousness of 30 minutes or more. A severe TBI is associated with a GCS of 3-8.
What can cause a myasthenic crisis? Symptoms? tx?
poor disease control, stress, hyperthermia, or pulmonary infections. Clinically these patients report severe weakness and subsequently develop respiratory failure. Treatment includes cholinesterase inhibitors, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant agents, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and plasmapheresis
Is Sux contraindicated in Cerebral palsy? CP and GI issues? CP-is it progressive?
NO. Succinylcholine is not contraindicated in cerebral palsy. CP patients have an increased incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal dysmotility. Pulmonary aspiration is increased in CP patients and places them at a greater risk for postoperative pulmonary complications.Cerebral palsies are non-progressive neurologic disorders. Neurologic injury occurs around the time of birth and does not progress as part of the natural disease course.
Are people with CP resistant to benzos?
Baclofen is commonly prescribed to CP patients for muscle spasticity. Baclofen can cause CNS depression and potentiate other CNS depressants. Further, CP patients are more sensitive to sedative medications at baseline and are at an increased likelihood of desaturation during monitored anesthesia care.
What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease involving both the upper and lower motor neurons and corticospinal tracts. It typically affects men between the ages of 40 and 60.Its ascending
ALS and muscle relaxants
These patients are at elevated risk of forming extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors and can mount an exaggerated hyperkalemic response to succinylcholine. These patients often show a prolonged response to nondepolarizing muscle relaxants; thus careful titration is recommended.
ALS and neuraxial anesthesia:
Neuraxial anesthesia is commonly avoided in patients with neuromuscular disease, and it is relatively contraindicated in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis for fear of exacerbating the disease. The mechanism behind disease exacerbation is unknown.f the benefit of neuraxial anesthesia outweighs the risk of disease exacerbation, epidural anesthesia may be preferable.
What triggers hypokalemic periodic paralysis?
Temp?
Metabolic state?
Excercise?
How does it affect the diaphragm? Inheritance pattern?
Published triggers include: stress, cold environment or hypothermia, carbohydrate load, infection, glucose infusion, metabolic alkalosis, alcohol, strenuous exercise, and steroids.It is diagphragm sparing and autosomal dominant.
T/F Only hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a risk for MH.
FALSE. Both hypo and hyper periodic paralysis are risk factors for MH.
Goals of TBI patients:
CU Management of Patients with Severe TBI: Parameters
ICP < 20 mm Hg SaO2 > 95% Glucose < 180 mg/dL
CPP 50-70 mm Hg PaCO2 35-40 mm Hg Temperature ≤ 37° C
Name the evoked potential in terms of the LEAST to MOST sensitive to anesthesia
isual evoked potentials (VEP) are the MOST SENSITIVE to anesthetic technique and are rarely ever used. The evoked potentials in order from least to most sensitive to anesthetic technique are: BAEP < SSEP < MEP < VEP, (SSEP = somatosensory evoked potential, MEP = motor evoked potential). Another way to remember: BAEP are Barely affected, SSEP are Somewhat affected, MEP are Mostly affected, and VEP are Very affected.
: Common causes of atlantoaxial instability include, but are not limited to: _____. Can lupus cause it?
trauma, achondroplasia, rheumatoid arthritis, and Down syndrome. Although rare, systemic lupus erythematosus can cause atlantoaxial instability due to joint laxity
What is transmural pressure?
Pressure inside (MAP in case of cerebral aneurysm) - Pressure outside (ICP)
How can aneurysms rupture if CSF is lost?
with loss of CSF volume, there can be an acute drop in ICP. This can lead to an increase in the transmural gradient and therefore a rupture in the aneurysm.
Can opioids ever lead to a rupture of an aneurysm?
YEs, if there’s too much opioid given, and the patient hypoventilates, then you can increase CBF (due to vasodilation), and then it can rupture.
The majority of patients with myelomeningiocele also have what neurological issue?
Arnold chiari and therefore hydrocephalus.The majority of patients with myelomeningocele also have Chiari II malformation, which involves herniation of the brainstem through the foramen magnum and frequently hydrocephalus secondary to blockage of the fourth ventricle.
What is myotonic dystrophy? How is it inherited? what ar the signs?
Myotonic dystrophy is a group of hereditary (usually autosomal dominant) diseases resulting in persistent contracture of skeletal muscle (myotonia) following voluntary contraction or external stimulation. This occurs because, following release, calcium does not efficiently return to the sarcoplasmic reticulum and remains available for sustained muscle contraction. In addition to skeletal muscle involvement, certain types of myotonic dystrophy (including the most common, myotonia dystrophica) also affect multiple organ systems. Symptoms and associated findings include: muscle degeneration, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal insufficiency, gonadal atrophy, and cardiac abnormalities (e.g. conduction dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, and mitral valve prolapse). Respiratory muscle weakness can lead to a restrictive respiratory pattern and cause mild arterial hypoxemia, reduced ventilatory response to hypoxemia and hypercapnia, and ineffective coughing. Gastrointestinal muscle weakness can lead to delayed gastric emptying, intestinal hypomotility, and pharyngeal muscle weakness. Each of these can contribute to an increased risk of aspiration.
myotonic dystrophy triggers
shivering due to hypothermia, neostigmine, succinylcholine, and direct surgical stimulation of muscle (especially via electrocautery).
Treatment of myotonic crises: Do Neuromuscular blocking drugs work?
Treatment of myotonia or myotonic crises includes phenytoin, quinine, and procainamide. The drugs work by decreasing sodium influx into skeletal myocytes and delaying the return of membrane excitability following an action potential. In addition, muscle contraction may also be relieved by direct infiltration of the affected muscle with local anesthetic or administering a high concentration of volatile anesthetic (but consider that the myocardial depressant effects may not be well-tolerated). It is important to note that neuromuscular blocking drugs do NOT treat myotonia since they act at the level of the neuromuscular junction, not within the myocyte where the abnormality occurs.
myotonic dystrophy and nm blockade?
Dont use sux
SAH and EKG changes:
BOTTOM LINE: Sudden catecholamine surge caused by SAH leads to hypertension, increased left ventricular strain, and possibly direct toxic effects to the heart. These physiologic changes increase myocardial oxygen demand and can lead to subendocardial ischemia with resultant ST-T segment changes
Acute spinal shock-what would you see?
In acute spinal shock the cord injury causes loss of motor, sensory, and reflex activity below the lesion.
Hemicord injury, also called Brown-Sequard syndrome, will result in
oss of pain and temperature at the level of the lesion on the ipsilateral side and on the contralateral side for the levels below the lesion as the spinothalamic tract decussates through the anterior white commissure from levels below in an ascending fashion and thus will carry signals from the contralateral side of the body. There will also be loss of dorsal column proprioception, vibration, and touch as well as motor function on the ipsilateral side with flaccid paralysis.
Anterior spinal cord injury:
Anterior spinal cord injury such as seen with injury or hypoperfusion during aortic surgery will result in preservation of the dorsal column function with loss of motor function at the level and below the level of the lesion
Dorsal column injury:
If the dorsal column of the spinal cord is affected than loss of touch, proprioception, and vibration will occur at and below the level of the lesion on the ipsilateral side with preservation of pain, touch, and motor function.
The first step with acute hemodynamic changes during posterior fossa and brainstem surgery is
To alert the surgeon to stop what they are doing as they are likely in proximity to vital structures that are easily damaged.
Signs of VAE
Signs of venous air embolism include increase in dead space (decrease in ETCO2 with increase in PaCO2), hypotension, tachycardia, arrhythmia, and acute right ventricular failure.
Detection of VAE:
Detection of VAE is most sensitive with TEE but precordial Doppler is also very sensitive and less invasive.
If VAE occurs, what should be done? whch position should the patient be put in?
Should a VAE occur the field should be flooded with saline immediately and the circulation supported with fluid and vasopressor if needed. The patient can be repositioned into the supine position to get the head below the level of the heart, the jugular veins occluded and attempts to aspirate the air from a multiorificed central line can be done. If air lock occurs then the patient should be placed in the left lateral decubitus position. If cardiac arrest occurs, CPR can help to break up the air lock mechanically.
DI metabolic abnormalities and lab hallmarks:
Common presenting signs are polydipsia, polyuria (from 4-20 L/day), and hypernatremia, without hyperglycemia or glycosuria. A urine osmolality less than 200 mOsm/kg and a urine specific gravity ≤1.005 are hallmarks of diabetes insipidus.
Desmopressin and carbamazepine for CDI
Desmopressin is a synthetic analogue of arginine vasopressin with potent antidiuretic activity but no vasopressor activity (A). It can be administered IV or intranasally. Vasopressin may also be administered, and may be especially useful in the setting of DI and hypotension.
Carbamazepine has also been used successfully in the treatment of CDI. The mechanism of this antiepileptic drug derives from its ability to sensitize the collecting duct to circulating ADH.
demeclocycline and furosemide in CDI?
Demeclocycline, derived from the tetracycline class of antibiotics, is used in the treatment of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) by actually inducing diabetes insipidus (C) and reducing ADH effects in the collecting duct.
Furosemide (D) is not used in the treatment of CDI, but may be used for SIADH
ASIA scoring system:
look at photos, basically A is the worst and Eis the best
The path of stimulus to terminal recording of a (lower extremity) motor evoked potential (MEP) descends along the neuromotor pathway from
from most superior to most inferior structures: lower limb cortex, internal capsule, brainstem, corticospinal tract, peripheral nerve, and eventually the lower limb muscle (e.g., tibialis anterior).
Which artery in the brain supplies motor to motor cortex?
MCA
benefits of transcranial doppler, which artery is it measuring?
Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography is utilized during CEA to detect thromboembolic events that could potentially cause adverse neurologic outcomes. It is also used to measure blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Transcranial doppler can also detect what 2 things? what is hyperperfusion syndrome after CEA?
t can also detect asymptomatic carotid artery occlusion and hyperperfusion syndrome following CEA. Hyperperfusion syndrome consists of a >100% increase in cerebral blood flow relative to the preoperative baseline. This affects 9-14% of patients and has the potential to cause postoperative neurological dysfunction which can include ipsilateral headache, focal seizures, focal deficit, ipsilateral intracerebral hemorrhage, and/or cerebral edema.
Cushing reflex triad:
HTN, irregular breathing< bradycardia
Pneumocephalus and posterior fossa surgery
Patients undergoing seated posterior fossa craniotomy or cervical spine surgery are at increased risk of developing tension pneumocephalus. Air may track superiorly and remain trapped within the higher regions of cranium. Changes in mental status, hypertension, and bradycardia may be indications of this form of increased ICP. A CT scan of the head can confirm the diagnosis. The risk of this complication may be reduced by avoiding nitrous oxide.
what isJugular bulb venous oxygen saturation (SjVO2)? why would it not be helpful in acute left focalized stroke?
a monitoring modality which assesses the oxygen extraction of brain tissue by following the mixed venous oxygen saturations of the jugular venous bulbs. These values represent the balance between global cerebral oxygen supply and demand. An acute left anterior cerebral artery stroke would cause focal ischemia and focal neuronal death. The SjVO2 values may be normal (55-75%) in this setting.
Barbituate and CMRO2? How does cerebral edema affect SjvO2?
A barbiturate infusion will cause a decrease in the global CMRO2 which decreases cerebral oxygen demand and will increase SjVO2.An increase in cerebral edema would reduce CPP by an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP). This reduction will globally affect oxygen extraction and alter the SjVO2 trend.
respiratory complications and MS? which muscles are weaker in MS? which lung volume does that affect?
The three most common respiratory problems in multiple sclerosis are respiratory muscle weakness, bulbar function impairment, and abnormalities of breathing control.
Aspiration, pneumonia, and acute ventilatory failure are possible complications of multiple sclerosis due to the muscle weakness and impaired cough. Both inspiratory and expiratory muscles are affected; however, the expiratory muscles are more weakened. Expiratory muscle strength is related to forced vital capacity (FVC).
Glasgow coma scale: Mild TBI score? Easy way to rememer?
Look at photo. mild=13 or higher.TrueLearn Insight : A mnemonic to remember which category has 4, 5, or 6 points is “eyes, vocal, motors” where the number of letters in each word corresponds to the number of points in that category
EEg during wakefulness: what does isoelectric eeg mean? why is burst suppressiom the main goal?
Thiopental-what does it do to CMRO2 . and CBF?
A high frequency, low amplitude pattern is present during wakefulness and arousal. An isoelectric EEG indicates cerebral silence and the maximal decrease in CMRO2.
Although an isoelectric electroencephalogram (EEG) indicates the maximal decrease in the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), the goal is a state called “burst suppression” (E). In this state, periods of isoelectric EEG are punctuated by “bursts” of EEG activity. By maintaining this state of burst suppression, one can achieve a near isoelectric EEG while being assured that regular EEG activity will resume once the medication is stopped.
hiopental also produces a proportional decrease in CMRO2 and cerebral blood flow (CBF), thereby reducing intracranial pressure (ICP) and improving cerebral perfusion. It has been suggested that barbiturates exhibit neuroprotective properties as they decrease CMRO2, act as free-radical scavengers, stabilize liposomal membranes, and exhibit excitatory amino acid receptor blockade.
Are TV used in MG patients to determine outcomes s/p surgery? What are the criteria?
NoCriteria that may predict the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation include:
- Duration of disease 6+ years
- Presence of pulmonary disease(s) unrelated to MG (e.g., COPD)
- Vital capacity of < 2.9 L (or < 40 mL/kg)
- Negative inspiratory force (NIF) < 20 cm H2O (e.g. 10 cm H2O)
- Daily pyridostigmine dose > 750 mg
Sux vs Roc in myasthenic patients? Response to anti-cholinesterases?
Resistant to sux, need more Roc
Good
Tx for tetanus?
MOa?Transported within the axon?
Treatment for tetanus includes supportive care and administration of tetanus immunoglobulin.Tetanus acts by preventing neurotransmitter release (glycine and GABA) from inhibitory neurons in the spinal cord. The lack of inhibition causes increased muscle contractions to the point of tetanus. Botulism toxin has a similar mechanism of preventing neurotransmitter release (acetylcholine), but botulism affects the alpha motor neuron causing flaccid paralysis
It is transported within the axon
Carbon monoxide causes release of what?
Carbon monoxide (CO) causes endothelial cells and platelets to release nitric oxide. This does not lead to vasospasm, but rather, can cause capillary leakage and edema. It is more likely to lead to vasodilation
How does Carbon monoxide do bad things?
Carbon monoxide exerts its toxic effects through a variety of mechanisms including binding to hemoglobin (functional anemia and leftward shift of oxygen-Hb dissociation curve), binding to myoglobin (impaired cardiac output), effects on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (impaired aerobic respiration), and peroxidation of brain lipids (direct cellular damage).
TrueLearn Insight : Fetal Hb has a > 10% higher affinity for CO than adult Hb. Because of this, even mild maternal CO poisoning can lead to severe fetal CO poisoning or even death.
kim-it can cause the O2 that is attached to hang on even more tightly
Are auditory evoked potentials affected by volatiles?
Not really
what are 3 important structures in the posterior fossa?
Brainstem, cerebellum, 4th ventricle