PassMed Flashcards
IIH RF (5 + list 5 drugs)
Young Overweight F Pregnant Drugs - COCP, Steroids, Tetracyclines, Vit A, Lithium
IIH Features
H, Blurred V, Papilloedema, Enlarged blind spot, 6th nerve palsy
IIH Mx
C- Weight loss
M- Diuretics (acetazolamide), Topiramate
S - Repeat LP, ON sheath decompression + fenestration to prevent damage, LP or VP shunt to reduce ICP
GBS define
immune mediated demyelination of PNS
- asc weakness - progressive - symmetrical
- reflex RED or ABSENT - sensory sx MILD
TIA new definition
transient ep of neurological dysftn caused by focal brain, SC, or retinal ischaemia without acute infection
i.e TISSUE - based NOT TIME - based
6 drugs worsening MG
6X drugs that may exacerbate myasthenia:
- penicillamine
- quinidine, procainamide
- beta-blockers
- lithium
- phenytoin
- ABx: gentamicin, macrolides, quinolones, tetracyclines
Raised ICP features (5)
- headache
- vomiting
- reduced levels of consciousness
- papilloedema
- Cushing’s triad = WIDE pulse pressure, BRADYCARDIA, irregular breathing, HTN
Raised ICP patho + normal range
- the normal ICP is 7-15 mmHg in adults in the supine position
- cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is the net pressure gradient causing cerebral blood flow to the brain
- CPP = mean arterial pressure - ICP
Raised ICP Mx
-investigate and treat the underlying cause
-HEAD ELEVATION to 30º
-IV MANNITOL may be used as an osmotic diuretic
-controlled HYPERVENTILATION: aim is to reduce pCO2 → VC of the cerebral arteries → reduced ICP
(Caution needed as may reduce blood flow to already ischaemic parts of the brain)
-REMOVAL of CSF, different techniques include:
—drain from intraventricular monitor
—repeated LP (e.g. IIH)
—VP shunt (for hydrocephalus)
MG Mx
Management
1-long-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
pyridostigmine is first-line
2-immunosuppression:
prednisolone initially
azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil may also be used
3-thymectomy
Causes of LMN facial palsy
Lower motor neuron: Bell's palsy Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (due to reactivation of herpes zoster) acoustic neuroma parotid tumours HIV multiple sclerosis* diabetes mellitus
Facial Nerve supplies what
Supply - ‘FACE, EAR, TASTE, TEAR’
face: muscles of facial expression
ear: nerve to stapedius
taste: supplies anterior two-thirds of tongue
tear: parasympathetic fibres to lacrimal glands, also salivary glands
Differences between pseudoseizures/psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and true seizures
Factors favouring pseudoseizures: pelvic thrusting family member with epilepsy much more common in F crying after seizure don't occur when alone GRADUAL onset
Factors favouring true epileptic seizures:
SUDDEN onset
tongue biting
raised serum PROLACTION
WE
Confusion, ataxia, nystagmus + ophthalmoplegia
Ataxic gait causes
Ataxic gaits typically occur following cerebellar injury, the causes of which can be remembered by the mnemonic ‘pastries’
P - Posterior fossa tumour A - Alcohol S - Multiple sclerosis T - Trauma R - Rare causes I - Inherited (e.g. Friedreich's ataxia) E - Epilepsy treatments S - Stroke
Ataxic gait feat
A wide-based gait with loss of heel to toe walking is called an ataxic gait
Temporal lobe seizure features
Lip smacking + post-ictal dysphasia are localising features of a temporal lobe seizure
spinal cord compression features
most comm from extradural compression from spinal mets
- feat: 1st = back pain (worse on lying down and coughing)
- lower limb weakness
- sensory changes: sensory loss and numbness
- neurological signs depend on the level of the lesion
how does level of spinal cord compression affect neurological sign presentations
- Lesions above L1 usually result in upper motor neuron signs in the legs and a sensory level
- Lesions below L1 usually cause lower motor neuron signs in the legs and perianal numbness
- Tendon reflexes tend to be increased below the level of the lesion and absent at the level of the lesion
bone mets
Most common tumour causing bone metastases (in descending order)
prostate
breast
lung
Most common site (in descending order) spine pelvis ribs skull long bones
Encephalitis features + immed Mx
- F, H, psychiatric Sx, seiz, vom
- focal features e.g. aphasia
- peripheral lesions (e.g. cold sores) have no relation to presence of HSV encephalitis
- compl by temporal L seizures: motionless staring, confusion and disorientation, altered ability to respond to others) accompanied by an aura (jamais vu - a feeling of unfamiliarity
MX: intravenous aciclovir should be started in all cases of suspected encephalitis
Pituitary apoplexy define + precipitating factors
Sudden enlargement of a pituitary tumour (usually non-functioning macroadenoma) secondary to haemorrhage or infarction.
Precipitating factors:
- HTN
- pregnancy
- trauma
- anticoagulation
Pituitary apoplexy features + Ix
- sudden onset H similar to that seen in SAH
- vom
- neck stiffness
- VF defects: classically bitemporal superior quadrantic defect
- extraocular nerve palsies
- feat of pituitary insufficiency
e. g. hypotension/hyponatraemia secondary to hypoadrenalism
Ix: MRI is dx
Pituitary apoplexy Mx
urgent steroid replacement due to loss of ACTH
careful fluid balance
surgery
Restless Legs Syndrome causes + assoc
Causes and associations: \+FHx in 50% of pts with idiopathic RLS IDA uraemia DM pregnancy
Restless Legs Syndrome mx
Mx:
- simple measures: walking, stretching, massaging affected limbs
- treat any iron defic
- dopamine AGONISTS are first-line treatment (e.g. PRAMIPEXOLE, ROPINIROLE)
- benzos
- gabapentin
what scale to measure disability or dependence in ADLs
Barthel Index
Wernicke’s vs Brocas
Wernicke’s sounds like ‘What?’ as the patient doesn’t understand a command.
Broca sounds like ‘broken’ as the patient’s word-flow is broken.
Thoracic outlet syndrome define
-disorder involving compression of brachial plexus, subclavian artery or vein at the site of the thoracic outlet. -TOS can be neurogenic or vascular; the former accounts for 90% of the cases.
NEUROGENIC Thoracic outlet syndrome clinic pres
painless muscle wasting of hand muscles, with patients complaining of hand weakness e.g. grasping
sensory symptoms such as numbness and tingling may be present
if autonomic nerves are involved, the patient may experience cold hands, blanching or swelling
VASCULAR Thoracic Outlet Syndrome clin pres
subclavian vein compression leads to painful diffuse arm swelling with distended veins
subclavian artery compression leads to painful arm claudication and in severe cases, ulceration and gangrene
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome causes
TOS occurs when you get neck trauma to pts with anatomical predispositions eg SOFT TISSUE (70%) eg scalene muscle hypertrophy or OSSEOUS structures (30%) eg cervical rib
CN6 palsy manifesting as diplopia could be the first sign of what?
BRAIN METS
- CN6 (ABDUCENS) is thinnest CN + longest intracranial course
- v susceptible to compression when SOL develoop
ACUTE mx of stroke
- BL GL, hydration, O2 sats + T should be maint within normal limits
- BP should not be lowered in the acute phase unless there are compl e.g. Hypertensive encephalopathy*
- aspirin 300mg orally or rectally should be given asap if a haemorrhagic stroke has been EXCL
- w/rto AF, anticoagulants should not be started until brain imaging has EXCLUDED HAEMORRHAGE, and usu not until 14 days have passed from the onset of an ischaemic stroke’
- if the cholesterol is > 3.5 mmol/l pts should be commenced on a STATIN. Many physicians will delay tx until after at least 48 hours due to the risk of HAEMORRHAGIC TRANSFORMATION
autonomic dysreflexia is what
- clinical syndr occurs in pts who have had a SCI at, or ABOVE T6 spinal level.
- Briefly, afferent signals, most comm triggered by FAECAL IMPACTION or URINARY RETENTION (but many other triggers have been reported) cause a SYMP spinal reflex via thoracolumbar outflow.
- The usual, centrally mediated, parasymp response however is prevented by the cord lesion.
- The result is an UNBALANCED physiological response, characterised by extreme HTN, FLUSHING + SWEATING above the level of the cord lesion, agitation, and in untreated cases severe consequences of extreme HTN have been reported, e.g. haemorrhagic stroke
Mx of autonomic dysreflexia
Mx involves removal/control of the stimulus + tx of any life-threatening HTN +/or BRADY.