UWorld Flashcards
Complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage
(a) First 24 hrs
(b) 5-14 days
(c) BMP abnormality
SAH complications
(a) Rebleeding in the first 24 hrs
(b) 5-14 days: vasospasm
(c) Hyponatremia 2/2 SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion)
Mechanism by which metoclopromide causes neck pain and stiff/tender neck muscles
Metoclopromide-induced dystonia 2/2 activity as a dopamine receptor antagonist
Extrapyramidal symptoms (tardive dyskinesia, dystonic rxns, and Parkinsonisms) are unfrequent but possible side effects of regional
Clinical manifestation of cerebellopontine angle tumors
Cerebellopontine angle tumors = acoustic neuromas/meningiomas
P/w HA, hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, balance problems
55 yo F w/ sudden onset severe l. periorbital pain and HA
- blurry vision, sees halos of light
- pupil dilated and poorly reactive to light
Dx
Dx = closed angle glaucoma
- acute, accompanied by pain
- buzzword = halos around lights
Most common manifestation of lacunar strokes
Most often affect the internal capsule => result in pure motor hemiparesis
ex: pt w/ sudden onset right sided (arm and leg) weakness and normal NCHCT
Cavernous sinus thrombosis
(a) Bugs
(b) Clinical presentaiton
(a) Staph/strep from disseinated localized infection
(b) Headache, CN (3,4,V1,V2,6) paralysis, decreased vision, exopthalmous (bulging eyes), chemosis (conjunctival swelling)
- symptoms b/l b/c cavernous sinus has anastomoses crossing midline
3 day old ex-30 weaker born at 1.36 kg (3 lb) w/ hypotonia, seizures, and rapidly increasing head circumference
- lethargic neonate, tense fontanels, generalized hypotonia
- Head ultrasound shows hydrocephalus
Dx
Dx = intraventricular hemorrhage
-common complication in ex-30 or before seekers
Rapidly increasing head circumference and bulging fontanelles consistent w/ severe hemorrhage
12 yo M w/ symmetric paralysis, absent DTRs, decreased superficial touch and vibratory sense of LE b/l 10 days s/p febrile diarrheal illness
(a) Dx
(b) Mechanism
(c) Etiology
(a) Guillan-Barre
(b) Demyelinating polyneuropathy, demyelination of peripheral nerves: mostly motor but also can be sensory and autonomic
(c) In this case most likely 2/2 campylobacter jejuni infxn
58 yo F p/w severe HA (right sided, retro-orbital) and agitation
- blurry vision, constipation, vom
- PMH: Parkinson’s, hypothyroid, HTN, chronic Hep C
Which medication most likely responsible?
Trihyexyphenidyl (anticholinergic)
Recognize anticholinergic toxicity: dry skin, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, flushing, vision changes, confusion
58 yo M w/ sudden onset speaking difficulty (difficulty w/ word finding and can’t follow simple commands) and weakness (marked in RUE, mild RLE)
- forced conjugate gaze preference to the left
- neglect of right visual field
- severe right lower facial droop
PMH: uncontrolled
- HTN, HLD
- severe LA enlargement
- carotid US w/ 25% stenosis
BP 156/96, HR 124 irregulargly irregular
(a) Dx- be specific as to location
(b) Explain all findings
(a) Cardiogenic emboli to MCA (probably distal segment of M1)
- Global aphasia (both expressive and comprehensive) localizes to the left hemisphere
- forced gaze preference to the left = damage to frontal eye fields
- right homnomymous hemianopsia (neglecting right visual field) = damage to upper and lower optic radiations in the lateral temporal and parietal lobes
Suggestive of large-occlusion- distal M1 segment of the left MCA
-right-sided weakness (face/arm over leg) consistent w/ left frontal lesion
Most common cause of intraparenchymal hemorrhage in adults vs. children
Adults = hypertensive vasculopathy
Children = AVM
Differentiate migraines and tension HA
Migraines: 4-72 hrs
- unilateral
- pulsatile
- inhibits daily activity
- aggravated by physical activity
Tension HA: 30 min-7 days
- b/l
- pressing/tightening, dull (non-pulsatile)
- mild to moderate, may inhibit but doesn’t prohibit daily activity
- not aggravated by physical activity
- no N/V
45 yo M p/w wasting of extremity muscles more apparent on extensor side
- weakness began distal and asymmetrically
- recent difficulty w/ swallowing, chewing, and speaking
- muscles stiffness
- bowel, bladder, sensory, cognitive fxns intact
- fasciculations and hyperreflexia of all extremities
- decreased bulbar reflexes
Dx
Dx = ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Presence of both UMN and LMN findings
UMN
- spasticity
- bulbar symptoms
- hyperreflexia
LMN
-fasciculations
36 yo F p/w daily bandlike HA, dizziness, and fatigue x1mo after a fall at work w/ LOC
Dx
Dx = postconcussive syndrome (following mild TBI)
Symptoms: HA, confusion, amnesia, difficulty concentrating or multitasking, vertigo, mood alteration, sleep disturbance
-resolve w/in week to months, but sometimes can last over 6 mo
While a delayed subdural hemorrhage would result in focal neurologic finding
10 hour old newborn w/ swelling on scalp that wasn’t present at birth
- swelling limited to surface of one cardinal bone
- no visible pulsations, indentations of the skull, or discoloration of overlying scalp
Dx
Dx = cephalohematoma = subperiosteal hemorrhage
- always limited to surface of one cranial bone (b/c it’s sub-periosteal)
- swelling not visible at birth b/c subperiosteal bleeding is slow/gradual
6 mo old F w/ milestone regression
- hypotonic, hepatosplenomegaly and protuberant abdomen
- bright red macula, cervical lymphadenopathy
(a) Deficiency
(b) Dx
(a) Spingomyelinase deficiency
(b) Neimann-Pick disease
- autorecessive, loss of motor milestones/hypotonia, cherry red macula
- different from Tay-Sachs: HSM and areflexia (while hyperreflexic Tay-Sachs)
Pt w/ r. facial droop- what sign would localize facial nerve palsy to below the pons
Below the pons if pt is unable to close eye on affected b/c means forehead control is not intact
Lesion in CNS above the facial nucleus would cause lower facial weakness sparing the forehead b/c collaterals (peripherally) are intact
53 yo M w/ occasional shaking of r. hand x3 mo
- present at rest, stops when reaches for remote
- no other neurologic symptoms or PMH
Mechanism of disease?
Basal ganglia dysfunction
-resting tremor = early sign of Parkinson’s
Focal vs. absence seizures
Focal: longer (2-3 mins), can have post-ictal state
-often automatisms
Absence: shorter (10-20 sec), no post-ictal state
-easily provoked by hyperventilation
8 yo M w/ multiple staring episodes that last 2-3 minutesduring which he tilts head and seems like he’s chewing, he is unresponsive during
- he remains confused for 20 minutes after
- EEG is unchanged w/ hyperventilation
Dx
Dx = focal seizures = originate in single hemisphere, can have lOC
-often have automatisms = repetitive semi-purposeful mov’ts (chewing, swallowing)
Different from absence seizures b/c this kid has post-ictal state, seizures not provoked by hyperventilation, and lasts longer than 10-20 seconds
What type of tremor is a cerebellar tremor?
Intention tremor- tremor increases steadily as hand reaches the target
Features of anterior cord syndrome
Anterior cord syndrome (often 2/2 burst fracture of the vertebra)
- loss of motor fxn below the lesion
- loss of pain and temp on both sides below the lesion
- intact proprioception
Describe physiologic tremor
Not visible under normal conditions, comes out during sympathetic tress (drugs, anxiety)
-usually worse w/ movement
56 yo M w/ b/l HA 3-4 per week
- mild photophobia, no phonophobia
- doesn’t interfere w/ work
- unremarkable neuro exam
Most likely dx?
Tension HA
- b/l
- doesn’t prohibit activity, mod-mild intensity
46 yo M develops severe HA only in certain postures, sometimes LOC
C/f
C/f intraventricular tumor b/c positionally blockage of CSF flow that causes sudden increase in ICP => acute HA w/ possible LOC
72 yo F w/ HTN, DM2, CAD suddenly drops fork while eating
-speech becomes slurred, develops r sided weakness
Dx
Dx = Lacunar stroke in basal ganglia
-intracranial bleed
-progressive symptoms w/ early focal neurologic symptoms and h/o HTN
Triad of Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- Encephalopathy (confusion)
- Ocular dysfunction
- often opthalmoplegia = paralysis of one or more EOM - Cerebellar/gait ataxia
58 yo F p/w difficulty walking
- b/l foot numbness and tinging
- currently on bleomycin, doxorubicin, and vicristine for Hodgkin lymphoma
Dx
Dx = chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
-stocking-glove distribution
Most likely from vincristine
-also from cisplatin and paclitaxel
Pt p/w Hemi-Neglect of the left side
Locate the lesion
Lesion = right parietal cortex
-responsible for spatial orientation
-ignoring side of space = non-dominant parietal lobe
Immediate reversal agent for
(a) Wafarin
(b) Heparin
(a) Warfarin can be reversed with prothrombin complex concentrate (KCentra) which contains vitamin-K dependent clotting factors for rapid reversal
- also give IV vitK: takes about 12 hrs to kick in (b/c need to remake factors)
(b) Protamine sulfate binds to heparin to inactivate it