Neurology/Sedation/Analgesia Flashcards
Lab tests for febrile seizure?
None needed
Lab tests for seizure diagnosis
CBC, electrolytes, toxicology screen, glucose, calcium, magnesium
When does a child with a seizure and a fever need an LP? (3 things)
- When they also have signs of meningitis including neck stiffness and +Kernig and/or Brudzinski signs
- In an infant 6-12 months w/o immunizations to Hib or Strept pneumo or if immunization status can’t be determined
- If they have been pretreated w/ antibiotics, b/c antibiotics can mask the s/s of meningitis but may not be sufficient to eradicate it
Kernig sign
One of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis is Kernig’s sign. Severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees.
Brudzinski sign
One of the physically demonstrable symptoms of meningitis is Brudzinski’s sign. Severe neck stiffness causes a patient’s hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed.
Simple Partial Seizures
Motor signs, somatosensory or special sensory, autonomic symptoms and signs, psychic signs
Complex partial seizures
Simple partial onset followed by or w/ impairment of consciousness
Febrile seizures
Occur on rise of fever, usually between ages 6 months and 5 years, short, resolve spontaneously
Status Epilepticus
A single seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes or two or more consecutive seizures w/o returning to baseline LOC
Referral to the ED
1st line therapy:
- ABC, then benzodiazepines PR, IM, IV
- Secondary therapy w/ Dilantin or Phenobarbital load
Infants and spinal cord injury
Poorly developed cervical musculature, head is disproportionately large
Children less than age 9 and spinal cord injury
Wedge shaped vertebral bodies, angled horizontally
Who is more prone to SCIWORA
Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality
Young children have cartilaginous endplates w/ lax interspinous ligaments, so they are more prone to SCIWORA
Who is more prone to atlantoaxial subluxation?
Children w/ Down syndrome are more prone to atlantoaxial subluxation as a result of acute flexion injury.
Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) is characterized by excessive movement at the junction between the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) as a result of either a bony or ligamentous abnormality. Neurologic symptoms can occur when the spinal cord or adjacent nerve roots are involved.
SCIWORA
Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) refers to spinal injuries, typically located in the cervical region, in the absence of identifiable bony or ligamentous injury on complete, technically adequate plain radiographs or computed tomography. The majority of children with SCIWORA do have demonstrable injury of the spinal cord, spinal ligaments, or vertebral body end plate on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SCIWORA should be suspected in patients subjected to blunt trauma who report early (immediate) or transient symptoms of neurologic deficit or who have existing findings upon initial assessment. Treatment and prognosis are based upon neurologic presentation and MRI findings.
Spinal Cord Injury Impairment Scale
A- Complete- No sensory or motor function preserved below S4-S5
B-Incomplete- Sensory function present, no motor function preserved below the neurologic level extending through S4-S5
C-Incomplete- Motor function preserved below the neurologic level w/ muscle grade less than 3
D- Incomplete- Motor function preserved below the neurologic level w/ muscle grade of 3 or greater
E- Normal- Sensory and motor function preserved
Management of Spinal Cord Injury
- Manage airway
- Immobilize C-Spine
- High dose IV steroids (30mg/kg)
- Manage neurogenic shock w/ fluids, alpha-adrenergic agents, continuous monitoring
- Spinal shock can last several days, causing paralysis and loss of tone w/ hypovolemia