Neurology/Neurosurgery Flashcards
What are the two types of brain injury?
Focal
Diffuse
Give examples of focal brain injuries
Contusion
Haematoma
Give an example of a diffuse brain injury
Diffuse axonal injury
What is the mechanism behind diffuse axonal injury?
Physical shearing forces following deceleration cause disruption and tearing of axons
What are contusions?
Micro-haemorrhages into brain parenchyma?
What are coup and contra-coup contusions?
Coup - adjacent to side of impact
Contra-coup - contralateral to impact
Give examples of secondary brain injury?
Cerebral oedema Ischaemia Infection Tonsillar herniation Tentorial herniation
How does the disruption of normal cerebral auto-regulatory processes following trauma affect the brain?
Renders the brain more susceptible to blood flow changes and hypoxia
What is the Cushing’s reflex?
Bradycardia and Hypertension
What is Cushing’s triad?
- Bradycardia
- Cheyne-Stokes respirations
- Widened pulse pressure
How does increased ICP activate Cushing reflex?
- As ICP increases, it becomes greater than Mean Arterial Pressure. (ICP must be less than MAP for adequate cerebral perfusion)
- This causes decreases Cerebral Perfusion Pressure
- Decreased cerebral perfusion pressure activates sympathetic system
- HTN and initially tachycardia
- HTN triggers carotid and aortic baroceptors to activate parasympathetic nervous system
- Parasympathetic leads to bradycardia
- Continually increasing ICP causes brainstem dysfunction -> Cheyne-Stokes breathing
How do you treat raised ICP?
IV Mannitol
How does mannitol work?
osmotic diuretic
What is normal ICP?
7-15mmHg in supine position
How do you calculate Cerebral perfusion pressure?
MAP - ICP
What are the symptoms of raised ICP?
Headaches Vomiting Reduced consciousness Papilloedema Cushing's reflex: - Bradycardia - Cheyne-Stokes breathing - Widened pulse pressure
How do you monitor ICP?
Invasive monitoring:
- Catheter placed into the lateral ventricles
- Catheter may also be used to collect CSF samples/drain CSF to reduce pressure
What is the cut-off used to determine if further treatment is required to reduce ICP?
> 20mmHg
How is raised ICP treated?
- Treat underlying cause
- Head elevation to 30º
- IV mannitol
- Controlled hyperventilation
- CSF removal
How does controlled hyperventilation aid in reducing CSF pressure?
Reduces PCO2 -> vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries -> reduced ICP
Why is caution needed when using controlled hyperventilation to reduce ICP?
May reduce blood flow to parts of brain which are already ischaemic
List 3 ways of removing CSF
- Drain from intraventricular monitor
- Repeated lumbar puncture (used in idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (hydrocephalus)
Where is the falx cerebri?
Fold of dura between cerebral hemispheres of brain
What structures are involved in subfalcine herniation?
Cingulate gyrus displaced beneath the falx cerebri
What is central herniation?
Downwards displacement of brain
What is transtentorial/uncal herniation?
Uncus of the temporal lobe is displaced beneath the tentorium cerebelli (tent above cerebellum)
What are the clinical consequences of transtentorial herniation?
Third nerve parasympathetic compression - ipsilateral fixed dilated pupil, looking down and out
Compression of cerebral peduncle - contralateral paralysis
What is tonsillar herniation?
Displacement of cerebellar tonsils through foramen magnum (aka coning - brainstem compression)
What are the two main causes of tonsillar herniation?
Raised ICP
Chiari malformation
What happens as a result of tonsillar herniation due to raised ICP?
Respiratory depression. Does not occur with chiari malformation
What is the calvaria?
Top part of skull
What is transcalvarial herniation?
Brain is displaced through defect in skull (eg fracture or craniotomy site)
What are the cerebral peduncles?
connect the cerebrum with spinal cord (compression causes contralateral paralysis)
Binocular vision post-facial trauma is suggestive of fracture of what? (+pain on opening mouth)
Depressed fracture of the zygomatic bone
What is the most sensitive investigation for diffuse axonal injury?
MRI brain
What are the layers of the dura?
Periosteal layer
Meningeal layer
Where does the haematoma form in a subdural haematoma?
In the potential space between the dura and the arachnoid
How do you test for each nerve root?
C5,6 pick up sticks (biceps reflex)
C7,8 lay them straight (triceps reflex)
S1,S2 buckle my shoe (ankle reflex)
L3/L4 kick the door (patellar reflex)
What nerve is at risk in a Smith’s fracture?
Median nerve
How can you test for median nerve damage following a Smiths fracture?
Thumb opposition (loss of function of the thenar eminence
Which nerves are at risk during axillary dissection (eg in mastectomy and lymph node clearance)?
Intercostobrachial - if damaged, loss of cutaneous axillary sensation
What nerve is responsible for fore-arm pronation?
Median nerve - also responsible for thumb opposition and thenar eminence muscles
What is pituitary apoplexy?
Haemorrhage in the pituitary gland - usually due to a pituitary adenoma
How does pit. apoplexy present?
Sudden onset headache, similar to SAH
Visual field defects
Evidence of pituitary insufficiency - hypoadrenalism
How are prolactinomas treated?
Cabergoline
How would hypoadrenalism present?
Caused by pituitary tumour
hyponatraemia
hypotension
How can neuroleptic malignant syndrome affect the kidneys?
Can cause AKI
- abnormal U&Es
What is the most common complication following meningitis?
Sensorineural hearing loss
When are triptans contra-indicated?
Coronary artery disease
Why are triptans contra-indicated in coronary artery disease?
Can cause vasospasm
Which vitamin in pabrinex can prevent Wernicke’s encephalopathy
B1
Which sign, if positive, points to a diagnosis other than Carpal tunnel syndrome?
Hoffmann’s sign
Which anaesthetic agents are likely to be ineffective in patients with myasthenia gravis?
Suxamethonium (Sucks in MG)
Which anaesthetic agent would you need to reduce the dose for for a patient with myasthenia gravis?
Rocuronium (Rocks in MG)
What is the best initial treatment for MG (if no myasthenic crisis)
Pyridostigmine
What happens in a myasthenic crisis?
Respiratory muscles affected - treat with IVIg and plasmapheresis