Neurology Flashcards
Cluster headache pain/symptoms
Unilateral excruciating pain centred over one eye lasting a few minutes, ptosis/miosis/runny nose/vomiting
What is Temporal Arteritis?
Granulomatous inflammation of the temporal arteries
Temporal Arteritis pain/symptoms
Scalp pain, jaw and tongue claudication
Tension headache pain/symptoms
Constant band-like pressure
Causes of Tension headache
Stress, fumes, depression, sleep deprivation, medication overdose
Cluster headache treatment
Triptans, high flow oxygen, sodium valproate, beta-blocker prophylaxis, avoid alcohol
Temporal Arteritis treatment
Prednisolone 60mg, temporal artery biopsy, raise ESR>50
Tension headache treatment
Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Amitriptyline, avoid triggers
Migraine pathophysiology
Intracranial vasoconstriction, meningeal and extra cranial vasodilation mediated by bradykinin and 5-HT
Migraine triggers
Cheese, alcohol, chocolate, hormones, salt, caffeine, stress, bright lights, loud sounds, lack of sleep
Name 3 Migraine differentials
Meningoencephalitis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, SAH, SOL, Temporal arteritis, stroke/TIA
Migraine medical management (Acute vs Prophylaxis)
Acute
- NSAIDs (Ibuprofen)
- Paracetamol
- Codeine
- Antiemetics (eg. metoclopramide)
- Triptans (eg. Sumatriptan) can act on: smooth muscle in arteries to cause vasoconstriction / Peripheral pain receptors to inhibit activation of pain receptors / Reduce neuronal activity in the central nervous system
Prophylaxis
- B-blockers
- Amitriptyline
- Topiramate (this is teratogenic and can cause a cleft lip/palate so patients should not get pregnant)
- Valproate
(Acupuncture and Vit B2
Migraine investigations
CT/MRI/LP (exclude other causes)
Migraine presentation
Pulsing headache with/without aura lasting 4-72 hours
Trigeminal Neuralgia presentation
Electric shock-type pain lasting up to 2 minutes, dull ache afterwards (may be triggered by touching skin supplied by nerve distribution)
Trigeminal Neuralgia management (1 drug, 2 operations)
Carbamazepine/surgical decompression/glycerol injection/radiofrequency lesioning/balloon compression
Thrombotic Stroke acute Mx
Alteplase (within 4.5hrs) + Thrombectomy (within 6 hrs if proximal anterior) + 300mg Aspirin and 75mg Clopidogrel for 2 weeks
Haemorrhagic Stroke acute Mx
Stop anticoagulants/antiplatelets + correct coagulation problems
6 Investigations for Stroke
CT(exclude haemorrhage)/MRI(Dx)/Carotid doppler(stenosis?)/Ca2+/U+E/LFTs/FBC/Creatinine/TFTs/Cholesterol/Clotting/BM
TIA definition (+ how long?)
Sudden onset global neurological deficit lasting <24 hours with complete clinical recovery
TIA management (drugs)
300mg Aspirin, 40mg Simvastatin
Epilepsy definition
Recurrent tendency to have spontaneous, intermittent and abnormal electrical activity in a part of the brain or generalised across the brain, leading to seizures
Temporal seizure presentation
Smell/taste abnormality, auditory phenomena, automatism, lip smacking, memory phenomena, deja-vu
Frontal seizure presentation
Motor phenomena (Jacksonian march -spreading clonic movements)