Neurology Class Notes Flashcards
What is a rare cause but potential cause of a brain abscess?
Ottis media - inner ear infection. Other causes include dental, sinus, or penetrating trauma
What is cushings triad?
Cheyne stokes respirations, increased BP, decreased pulse. These signs are consistent with ICP
What are SS of brain abscess complications?
Headache, confusion, vomiting, nuchal rigidity, fever.
What are the most consistent findings with brain abscess complications?
Fever, headache, and focal neurological findings.
What is a petit mal seizure?
Same as absence seizure. It is brief, eyelids flutter, stare. Common in children.
What is status epilepticus?
Seizure greater than 5 minutes or more than 1 seizure in a 5 minute period.
What is hypertonic seizure activity?
Excessive rigidity or tone of muscles
What is a focal motor seizure?
Simple partial seizure with localized motor activity. Patient does not lose consciousness. May be spasm or clonus of one muscle group or may remain localized or spread to adjacent muscle (Jacksonian)
What are the stages of a seizure?
- ) aura
- ) ictus
- ) postictal
What is an aura?
Unusual feeling, sensations, smells, emotions, nausea, déjà vu
What is ictus?
The actual seizure activity. Clonic, tonic, or hypertonic.
What is postictal?
Marked by loss of bladder or bowels, numbness, headache, confusion, drowsiness
What are key considerations for evaluating a post seizure patient?
AMS needs to be evaluated
- glucose
- airway
What is a cluster headache?
Primary, or histamine headache. Most painful headache involving the 5th cranial nerve. Pain usually comes and goes. Pain usually involves one eye and nasal congestion. Involves the trigeminal nerve, vascular in nature.
What is an organic headache?
Caused by ICP or other organic diseases
What is a migraine headache?
Change in vascularity
What is a vascular headache?
Due to abnormal functioning of blood vessels in the brain
What is a tension headache?
Most common, involves jaw, shoulder, neck