Neurology Flashcards
In-class review for exam
Glasgow Coma Scale Mnemonics: VOICE Obeys .... 44 ....
VOICE for Verbal Response
V: voiceless (1) - O: ooohhh incoherent (2) - I: inappropriate words (3) - C: confused but answers (4) - E: elegant speech (5)
Obeys… for Motor Response
Obeys (6) → Localizes pain (5) → Draws from pain (4) → Bends (3) → Extends (2) → None (1)
44…for Eye Opening Response
44- open eyes = spontaneous opening (4)
3- lips = verbal/speech makes eyes open (3)
2- pointy = ouch open eyes from pain (2)
1- sideways looks like closed eyes no opening (1)
ID the type of hematoma: WITH a lucid interval? WITHOUT a lucid interval? \+ ID anatomic location of blood
WITH lucid interval: Epidural Hematoma
-Above the dura mater (lentiform)
WITHOUT lucid interval: Subdural Hematoma
-Below the dura mater/above arachnoid matter (crescent)
55 y.o. smoker w/ hx of HTN, atherosclerosis, & etoh intake experienced a sudden LOC & a sudden severe HA
…
What should be a top differential
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
d/t
Ruptured Saccular (Berry) Aneurysm
Normal intracranial pressure vs. Fatally high intracranial pressure
Normal: < 10-15 mmHg
Fatal: > 25-30 mmHg
Indications for ICP Monitoring
- Inability to follow commands or localize a stimulus
- Multiple systems injured + altered LOC
- Sedated patient (d/t inability to monitor their mental status)
- Known concurrent tx that elevates ICP
- Traumatic intracranial mass
- Acute fulminant liver failure + INR > 1.5 + Coma
* In general never do it in a pt who is awake & has normal neruo exam
Treatment for elevated ICP
- Raise HOB 30-45°
- Normotensive (keep BP normal)
- Hyperventilate
- Sedation
- Mannitol
- Hypertonic saline
- Control hyperglycemia
- Seizure prophylaxis
Transient altered mental status d/t a diffuse traumatic brain injury
-Pathophys: d/t what type of crisis?
-List the “no-go” characteristics & also generally reasons to go to the ER
-
Concussion
- Pathophys: Energy crisis from shearing of axons
- “No-go”: LOC, Seizure, Fencing, Gross Motor Instability, Confusion, Amnesia, *repeated N/V
Sample Question:
Unidentified male s/p MCC. On arrival to ER, the pt is confused, but able to respond to questions appropriately. He is groggy, but opens his eyes to verbal command and is able to make purposeful motions in response to painful stimuli. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)?
12
Second Impact Syndrome
-Definition
Rare Phenomenon when diffuse cerebral swelling develops in the setting of a second head trauma (any severity) occurring while a pt is still symptomatic from a previous concussion, can be deadly
At risk for this if pt is undergoing active litigation, repeat concussions, GCS < 13 on presentation. Generally pt might have chronic HA, difficulty w/ memory, fatigue, sleeping challenges, personality changes, sensitivity to light/noise.
-Tx?
Post-concussion Syndrome Tx: -Rest, both PHYSICAL & COGNITIVE -Symptomatic tx of HA & mood sx -+/- referral for neuropsychological testing
In a suspected traumatic brain injury, when is it ideal to perform a Glasgow Coma Scale evaluation? Should be followed up by what?
Within 30 minutes of the injury
+
MRI or CT scan
What does Golden Hour refer to?
In TBI’s it is essential to treat within the first 60 minutes of presentation! Improves mortality.
Define the following Skull Fractures:
- Linear
- Depressed
- Diastatic
- Basilar
Linear: break to skull w/o movement (*mc temporoparietal, frontal, occipital)
Depressed: sunken spot
Diastatic: fx along a suture line & it pries apart
Basilar: fx at base of skull (*most serious)
(+) Racoon Sign or battle sign
Basilar skull fx
Post skull fx, note clear fluid on pts pillow, it could have been from their nose or ear, you suspect…
Basilar skull fx
MC artery ruptured in an Epidural Hematoma
Middle Meningeal Artery
Arterial blood + above dura + lucid for several hrs + craniotomy if > 30 cm^3
Epidural Hematoma
Venous blood + below dura + NOT lucid + fall or MCV or assault
Subdural Hematoma
What is it called when an elderly pt has a subdural hematoma that progressively presented w/ sx
SUBACUTE subdural hematoma
Caused by an injury to vasculature of the brain
- Presentation?
- Can be fatal if ICP is at what value?
- Treatment?
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage or Brain Herniation
Presentation: Sudden, severe HA, +/- focal neural deficit, ↑ BP
Fatal ICP if > 25-30 mmHg
Treatment:
-Control BP
-Surgical: clipping or wrapping aneurysm or catheter to remove embolization
Prognosis for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
⅓ survive + good recovery
⅓ survive + disability
⅓ die
Repetitive mild head injury
Observed in athletes or military personnel
Tau degenerative change at superficial cortical layer of brain
Cognitive, behavioral, mood sx
Supportive tx only
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
AEIOU TIPS
Possible causes of Dementia A: alcohol or AAA E: electrolytes or endocrine I: insulin/blood sugar O: opiates U: uremia T: trauma, temp or toxemia I: infections (sepsis, meningitis) P: psychogenic or pulmonary embolus S: space occupying lesion/strokes/shock/seizure
3 assessments for Altered Mental Status suspected to be from damaged brainstem function
- Corneal Reflex
- COWS
- Doll’s Eyes
Always consider these 3 reversible causes of Altered Mental Status
- Hypoglycemia (check glucose → +/- give dextrose)
- Opiate overdose (trial of naloxone)
- Thiamine deficiency (trial of thiamine)
AVPU Scale
Assess Altered Mental Status A: alert V: verbal P: pain U: unresponsive
Definitions:
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Stupor
- Coma
- Delirium
Confusion
Behavioral state of ↓ mental clarity, coherence, comprehension, reasoning
Drowsiness
Patient not easily aroused by touch or noise, cannot maintain alertness for some time
Lethargy
Depressed mental status, pt can appear wakeful but w/ ↓ awareness of self/environment/globally, cannot be aroused to full function
Stupor
Takes vigorous stimuli to wake the pt, and pt does put in an effort to avoid uncomfortable or aggravating stimulus
Coma
Unable to arouse pt by stimulation, and pt DOES NOT put in an effort to avoid painful stimuli
Delirium
Acute onset of fluctuating cognition w/ impaired attention & consciousness, ranges from confusion → stupor
Method to assess Delirium
CAM
Confusion Assessment Method
Acute confusional state
Transient global disorder of attention + clouding of conscience
Delirium
These are all types of what?
- Sundowning
- ICU psychosis
- Terminal
Delirium
MC cause of delirium in hospitals?
Other causes in general?
Hospitals: Withdrawal (etoh or substance)
General: Systemic problem (meds, hypoxemia, infection)
Which one has a primary deficit in ATTENTION?
Dementia or Delirium?
Delirium
Attention deficit Rapid onset + Fluctuating Anxiety Irritability HYPO or HYPER reactive
Delirium
Delirium
Treatment
- Prevention
- ID underlying cause & resolve it
- Remove offending factor, like medication (especially opioids) - Significant behavioral control issues + Subjective distress → Haloperidol
Delirium
Prognosis
- Typical 1 week duration
- Full recovery (usually)
- Some never return to baseline
- Associated w/ worse clinical outcomes overall
Progressive decline in INTELLECTUAL function w/ loss of short term memory + 1 additional cognitive deficit
-What stays preserved?
Dementia
Preserved: Attention/Motor function/Speech
All pts > 70 y.o. must receive a Screening Mental Exam to ID what?
Dementia
*50% of ppl > 85 y.o. have Dementia
Irreverisble vs. Reversible causes of Dementia
Irreversible causes:
Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob dz
Reversible causes:
Depression, vit B12 deficiency, syphilis, hypothyroidism, NPH, drug use, intracranial mass
Dementia
Treatment
- Depression Screening
- Aerobic Exercise Daily
- Frequent Mental Stimulation
* Unlikely to regain lost skill s
Early loss of short term memory, a neruodegenerative dz, variable deficits of executive function, visuospatial function, & language
Alzheimer’s
MC age related neurodegenrative dz
Alzheimer’s
2nd MC age related neurodegerative dz
Parkinson’s
ß-amyloid peptide plaques + neurofibrillary tangles w/ tau protein
Found throughout the neocortex
Cholinergic deficiency → memory, language, visuospatial changes
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Sx
1st Sx → steady progression of SHORT term memory loss
Progresion to → long term memory loss, disorientation, behavioral & personality changes
↓ intellectual function & cognition
Mental Status Exam shows intellectual decline in > 2 ares of cognition
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s
Treatment
Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Donepezil, Rivastigine, Galantamine Tacrine
NMDA Antagonist: Memantine (MOD-SEVERE Alzheimer’s)
Best combo: Cholinesterase Inhibitor + NMDA Antagonist
*SAME tx in lewy body dementia
Cognitive, dysfunction, neruodegenerative dz, variable deficits of executive function, visuospatial function, hallucinations & language w/ onset earlier in life
Lewy Body Dementia