Vertigo Flashcards
Vertigo relating to dizziness
- false sensation of movement or spinning
- nausea/vomiting/diaphoresis
- swaying, tilting, sense of being “pushed” in all directions
Pre-syncope relating to dizziness
- mostly a Cardiovascular/circulating etiology presenting as a neuro symptom
- lightheadedness
- blurry vision
- diaphoresis, heart palpitations, nausea
- occasionally develops into syncope
Disequilibrium relating to dizziness
- common in elderly
- more constant and provoked with standing or ambulation
- they “feel” off balance and display an unsteady gait
When does vertigo occur?
- occurs when some pathological process disrupts the input from one labyrinth to the brain and the other side tries to compensate and gets confused.
- Its like unplugging an auxiliary cord
Syncope relating to dizziness
- sudden loss of consciousness patient has either:
decreased amount of nutrients to brain (oxygen or glucose)
OR - a surge of electrical discharge that wipes out portion of their memory (seizure or arrhythmia)
Dysequilibrium related to dizziness
Difficulty sensing where they are in the world
- instability
- elderly with multi sensory deficits
- diabetic with peripheral neuropathy
Nonspecific dizziness
- they fit into none of our categories
- normal neuro exam
- chances of being emergent arent likely
- refer to ENT
What is vertigo
Dysfunction within the vestibular system
divided into peripheral and central
What is peripheral vertigo
-labyrinth and the vestibular portion of the VIII CN (vestibulocochlear nerve)
-CN VIII connects the labyrinth and the brainstem
Labyrinth located in the inner ear
-3 semicircular canals make up the LABYRINTH
-Otoliths (“rocks”) within the fluid filled canals that sense head position in relation to gravity and communicates it to the brain (canals, joints, brain)
What is central vertigo
- brain stem, cerebellum, peripheral labyrinths
- Vertebrobasilar artery system supplies the above
- Central and peripheral ischemic vertigo syndromes can overlap
What is the onset of peripheral vs. central vertigo?
- peripheral = sudden
- central = slow
What is the severity of peripheral vs. central vertigo?
- peripheral = intense spinning
- central = less intense, poorly defined
What is the pattern of peripheral vs. central vertigo?
- peripheral = intermittent, resolves with Tx
- central = constant
Is peripheral worse on movement or central?
- peripheral = yes
- central = yes and no
Match frequency of nausea/diaphoresis with central v. peripheral vertigo
- peripheral = frequently
- central = infrequently
What is the direction of peripheral vs. central nystagmus direction?
- peripheral = horizontal lateral, rotary
- central = vertical, pure torsional
Does peripheral or central vertigo fatigue?
peripheral
Does hearing loss/tinnitus occur with peripheral hearing loss/tinnitus?
- may occur with peripheral
- does not occur with central
Will peripheral or central have abnormal TM?
- peripheral may occur
- central no
Are there CNS findings in peripheral or central vertigo?
- peripheral = absent (neuro exam is normal)
- central = present
Describe the peripheral gait vs central
- peripheral = can walk with assistance
- central = walking with very difficult, often unable to
How do you differentiating peripheral nystagmus?
- nystagmus will be in same direction ALWAYS
- it will change direction with gaze changes and visual fixation (fatigues)