Clinical stuff Flashcards

(253 cards)

1
Q

What are the 5 causes of blackouts?

A
  1. No blood
  2. Blood no good
  3. Brainstem
  4. Cerebral
  5. Psychological
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2
Q

What are the causes of “no blood” black outs?

A

Vasovagal syncope

Postural Hypotension

Hyperventilation

Cardiac Dysrhythmia

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3
Q

What are the causes of “blood no good” blackouts?

A

Hypoxia

Hypoglycaemia

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4
Q

What is Vasovagal Syncope?

A

Fainting

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5
Q

What causes Vasovagal snycope?

A

Vagal activity increaces will symapthetic activity decreses

As a result the heart slows and blood pools in the peripheries.

Cardiac output decreases resulting in inadequate perfusion to the brain.

The patient then collapses, venous return improves and cardiac output goes back to normal

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6
Q

What is postural hypotension?

A

Patient feels dizzy upon standing, blacks out and collapses

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7
Q

Why does postural hypotension occour?

A

Decreased symapthetic activity affecting the heart and peripheral circulation

Normal cardio-acceleration and peripheral vasoconstriction in response to standing does not occour.

Cardiac output is no sufficiant resulting in loss of consciousness

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8
Q

What is usually the cause of postural hypotension?

A

Decreased sympathetic activity due to anti-hypertensive drugs

occasionally due to a physical lesion of the sympathetic pathways

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9
Q

What kind of person experiances postural hypotension

A

middle aged or elderly

Parkinson’s disease

Peripheral neuropathy

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10
Q

What happens during hyperventilation?

A

Patients overbeath and wash out CO2 from their blood.

Arterial hypocapnia is a potent cerebral vasocontrictive stimulus.

Inadequate perfusion to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness

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11
Q

How can you prevent hyperventialtion?

A

Rebreathing into a paper bag.

Stops hypocapnia as you are rebreathing air which has more CO2 in it

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12
Q

What signs and symptoms are suggestive of cardiac dysrhytmia being the cause of blackouts?

A
  • Older patient
  • attacks unrelated to posture
  • Hx of Ischaemic heart disease
  • Palpatations
    • Dizziness and colour change prior to collapse
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13
Q

What are Vertebro-basilar transient iscaemic attacks?

A

Thrombo-embolic material from the heart of proximal large arteries occlude arteries supllying the brainstem.

Cause ischemia of the brainstem tissue untill they are dislodged

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14
Q

what are the symptoms of Vertebro-basilar transient ischaemic attack?

A

Lasting about 8 minutes

Vertigo

Visual field defects (diplopia, hemianopia)

Auditory phenomena (sudden sensorineural hearing loss)

Facial numbness or paresthesias

Dysphagia, dysarthria, hoarseness

Syncope (drop attacks)

Hemisensory extremity symptoms (eg, contralateral to facial component

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15
Q

What factors make Vertebro-basilar transient ischaemic attacks more likely in a patient?

A

Older patient

know arteriopathic history

Presence of a source of emboli - MI, atrial fibrilation, neck bruits etc

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16
Q

What is a “hysterical attack”

A

Some patients attract attention to themselves, at a conscious or unconscious level by having blackouts.

Attacks consist of apparent loss of conciousness with falling and sometimes simulated convulsive movements.

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17
Q

What is narcolepsy?

A

episodes of sleep of unatural duration and stength occouring at unsual times.

Sufferers may also experiance

  • Cataplexy
  • Sleep paralysis
    • Hypnogogic Hallucintions
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18
Q

What is transient global amensia?

A

For a few hours the patient acts normally but afterwards they cant remember anything that happened

usually ony happens a couple times in a patients life

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19
Q

What are the layers of the meinges?

A

Dura mater

Arachnoid mater

Pia mater

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20
Q

What causes Viral Meningitis?

A

Enteroviruses like ECHO virus

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21
Q

How do you diagnose viral meningitis?

A

Viral stool culture

Throat swab

CSF PCR

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22
Q

How do you treat viral meningitis?

A

Supportive - Self limiting

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23
Q

What is the most common cause of community aquired bacterial meningitis in children?

A

H. influenza

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24
Q

What is the most common cause of community acquired bacterial meningitis in ages 10-21?

A

Neisseria meningitidis

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25
What is the most common cause of community acquired bacterial meningitis in adults
streptococcus pneumoniae
26
What is a major risk factor for streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis?
Fracture of the cribiform plate
27
What type of meningitis does " decreased cell mediated immunity" increase the risk for?
Listeria monocytogenes
28
What type of meningitis does head trauma or neurosurgery put you at higher risk off?
S. aureus S. epidermidis
29
What type of meningitis does a basilar skull fracture put you at higher risk of?
S.pneumoniae H. influenzae beta-hemolytic strep group A
30
What causes meningococcal meningitis?
Neisseria meningitis
31
How does Neisseria meningitis cause symptoms?
Endotoxins
32
Who gets memingococcal meningitis?
Young children
33
What is characterisitic of Tuberculous Meningitis?
Reactivaion:- Elderly Previous TB on CXR Non specific ill health
34
How do you treat Tuberculous Meningitis?
Isoniazid + rifampicin
35
What is cryptococcal meningitis?
Fungal meningitis presenting mainly in HIV disease
36
What is Chorea?
Fragments of movements flowing irregulary from one body segment to the next
37
What is ballismus?
Extreme chorea
38
What are the two broad subtypes of parkinson's disease?
Tremor dominant Parkinson's Disease Non-tremor dominant Parkinson's Disease
39
What sub type of parkinsons disease is associated with a slower rate of progression and less functional disability
Tremor-dominant subtype
40
What are the non-motor features of parkinson's disease?
Olfactory dysfunction cognitive impairment psychiatric symptoms sleep disorders autonomic dysfunction pain fatigue
41
What is the classic disease progression of parkinson's disease?
Diagnosed made with motor symptoms but non motor symptoms have been around for a while Initally motor features are well controlled at 17 years 80% report gait freezing and falls while 50% report choking At 20 years 83% have dementia
42
What does the disease progression graph look like for Parkinson's disease
43
What are the pathological hall marks of parkinsons disease?
Loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substania nigra and lewy body pathology
44
What are Lewy bodies?
Build ups of insoluble misfolded alpha-synuclien
45
Does having parents with parkinson disease increase your risk of parkinson's disease?
Yes
46
What mutations are the most common causes of parkinsons disesae?
LRRK2 Parkin
47
What is the most common cause of meningitis in children under the age of 4 ?
H. influenzae
48
How do you treat parkinson's disease ?
Increase dopamine in the brain
49
What are the adverse side affects of dopamine treatment in parkinsons?
Impulse control disorders made worse Hallucinations - Carefull in the elderly Nausea Oedema Daytime somnolence
50
What are the long term complications of dopaminergic therapy in parkinson's disease?
Motor flucations:- on time/off time Dyskinesia and chorea (corrolates with levodopa conc) Hallucinations
51
What are the motor symptoms of parkinsonisim?
Bradykinesia Rest tremor Rigidity Postural and gait impariment
52
What is typical with Vascular Parkinsonism?
Predominantly affects lower limbs Poor levodopa response Resting tremor uncommon
53
What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
X linked genetic disease resulting in progressive muscle weakness
54
What is huntington disease?
Progressive neurodegenerative disorder onsent between 30-50 yrs
55
How is huntington disease inherited ?
Autosomal Dominant
56
What is the most common cause of dementia?
Alzheimer's disease (50-70%)
57
What are the 5 things measured in the cerebral spinal fluid when ivestigating meningitis?
WBC count Neutrophils Protein Glucose
58
What would you expect the WBC count to be in the CSF during bacterial meningitis?
WBC count \>2000
59
What would you expect the neutophil count to be in the CSF of expected bacterial meningitis?
Neutrophils \>1180
60
What would you expect of the protein content in the CSF of expected bacterial meningitis?
Protein \>220 mg/dl
61
What would you expect the glucose level to be in the CSF of expected bacterial meningitis?
Glucose \<34mg/dl
62
What CSF findings are 99% perdictive of bacerial meningitis?
WBC \>2000 Neutrophils \>1180 Protein \>220mg/dl Glucose \<34 mg/dl
63
What should you do when a patient is addmitted to hospital with acute adult bacterial meningitis
* Take blood for culture and coagulation screen * Take throat swab * Swab any skin lesions * Start "intial therapy before pathogens are identified" treatment
64
What types of patients which acute adult bacterial meningitis need a CT prior to lumbar puncture?
* Immunocompromised patients * History of CNS disease * New onset of seizure * Papilloedema * Abnormal levels of consciousness * Focal neurological deficit *
65
What is the empiracal antibiotic for acute adult bacterial meningitis?
IV ceftriaxone 2g bd if listeria is suspected add Amoxicillin 2g qds
66
What is the empiric antibiotic for acute adult bacterial meningitis for someone with a penicillin allergy?
Chloramphenicol IV 25 mg/kg every 6hrs plus Vancomycin IV 500 mg every 6 hours
67
Whats the deal with steriods and bacterial meningitis?
Give to all patients suspected of bacterial meningitis before or with the first dose of antibiotics and then every 6 hours
68
When are the only times you wouldnt give steriods in adult acute baterial meningitis ?
* Post surgical meningitis * Severe immunocompromise * septic shock
69
What must you remeber to do when you have a paient with meningitis?
Call Public Health
70
Explain the concept of Cerebral Perfusion Pressre?
Cerebral perfusion pressure = mean arterial pressure --- intracranial pressure
71
What are the ideal CPP = MAP --- ICP pressures that you want to keep
Cerebral perfussion pressure = Mean arterial pressure --- Intracranial pressure \>60mmHg = \>80mmHg --- \< 20mmHg
72
What is normal adult Intercrainial Pressure?
9-11mmHg
73
How can you spot an anteior cranial fossa fracture?
Panda eyes
74
How can you spot a middle crania fossa fracture?
"battle sign"
75
What kills patients with head injuries?
Hypoxia Hypotension Raised Intracranial Pressure
76
When should you request a CT scan of the head in patients with head trauma?
Any patient with : * Skull fracture * GCS \<15 * Focal neurological signs * Taking anti-coagulants
77
What are the types of traumatic intracranial bleeding from outside to inside?
Extradural haematoma Subural haematoma Traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage Intracerebral contusion Intracerebral haematoma Intraventricular haemorrhage
78
Why is sedation useful in the management of head injuries?
Reduces cerebral metabolic rate Reduces cerebral blood flow Reduces ICP
79
What is the most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Ruptured aneursym
80
What is a saccular aneurysms?
True aneurysms with involvement of all layers of the vessle
81
What is classic in Lower motor neurone disorders?
* Weak * Low tone * Fasiculations
82
What causes botulism?
Clostridium botulinum - PWID
83
How does botulinum toxin work?
Cleaves presynaptic protiens involved in vesicle formation and block vesicle docking
84
What is Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome?
Antibodies to presynaptic calcium channels leading to less vesicle release.
85
What is strongly associated with Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome?
Small cell carcinoma
86
What is the most common disorder of the neuromuscular junction?
Myasthenia Gravis
87
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Autoimmune antibodies to acetyl choline receptors Reduced number of functioning receptors leads to muscle weakness and fatiguability
88
When do you first start to experiance symptoms in myasthenia gravis?
When ACh receptors are reduced to 30% of normal
89
When are the two peaks of indcidence in myasthenia gravis?
Females: 30 - 40 Males: 60 - 80
90
What are the common clincial features of myasthenia gravis?
Weakness typically fluctuating Extraocular weakness, facial and bulbar weakness proximal limb weakness
91
How do you treat myasthenia gravis?
Immunomodulating Steriods/azathioprine emergency treatment wih plasma exchange or immunoglobulin
92
How does myasthenia gravis cause death?
Respiratory failure (diaphram) and Aspiration pneumonia
93
What are fasiculations?
Visible, fast, fine and spontaneous muscle twitch
94
What is myotonia?
Failure of muscle channel relaxation after use
95
What does myalgia mean?
Muscle weakness
96
What cause myotonia?
Problem with the cholride channel
97
What is Rhabdomyolysis?
"Dissolution of muscle" Damage to skeletal muscle causes leakage of large quantities of toxic intracellular contents into the plasma
98
What is multiple sclerosis?
An inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system
99
When do people with multiple sclerosis usually present?
30s and 40s
100
What are the 6 clincial features of Multiple Sclerosis?
Pyramidal dysfunction Optic neuritis Sensory Symptoms Lr Urinary tract dysfunction Cerebellar and brain stem features Cognitive impairment
101
What does pyramidal dysfunction in MS cause?
Increased tone Spasticity Weakness Extensors of upper limbs Flexors of lower limbs
102
What is Optic neuritis?
Painful visual loss lasting 1-2 weeks common in Multiple Sclerosis
103
What causes Diplopia in MS?
Abducens nerve palsy
104
What causes facial weakness in multiple sclerosis?
Facial nerve
105
What is internuclear ophthalmoplegia?
Medial longitudinal fasciculus resulting in distortion of binocular vision due to failure of adduction
106
What urinary symptoms do people with multiple sclerosis get?
Frequency nocturia urgency urge incontinence retention
107
What is required to diagnose MS?
At least 2 episodes suggestive of demyelination dissemination in time and place
108
What should be on your differential diagnosis list for multiple sclerosis?
Vasculitis Granulomatous disorder vascular disease structural lesion infection metabolic disorder
109
What are the three principes to treating multiple sclerosis?
1. Acute exacerbations 2. Symptomatic treatment 1. Disease modifying therapy 1.
110
How do you treat a mild , moderate and severe acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis?
Mild - symptomatic treatment Moderate - Oral steriods Severe - IV steriods
111
What are the treatment options for spasticity in multiple sclerosis?
Physio Oral medication - Baclofen and tizanidine Botulinum toxin Intrathecal baclofen
112
What does intrathecal mean?
Via the CSF
113
How can you manage the sensory symptoms of Multiple sclerosis?
Anti-convulsant Anti-depressant Tens machine Acupunture Lignocaine infusion
114
What anti-convulsant is appropriate in multiple sclerosis?
Gabapentin
115
What antidepressant drug is usefull in multiple sclerosis?
Amitriptyline
116
What three problems do people with multiple sclerosis get with regards to their bladder?
Increased tone at bladder neck Detruser hypersensitivity Detruser sphyncteric dyssenergia
117
What is detruser sphyncteric dyssenergia?
Dyscoordination of the detruser muscles and external sphincter muscles
118
How do you treat unrinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis?
* Bladder drill / diary * anti-cholinergics - oxybutynin * Desmopressin * Catherterisation *
119
How do you treat fatigue in patients with Multiple sclerosis?
Amantadine or if sleepy Modafinil
120
What is the first line disease modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis
Interferon beta Glitiramer acetate Tecfedira
121
What are there second line disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis
Monoclonal antibody Fingolimod
122
What is the third line therapy for multiple sclerosis?
Mitoxantrone
123
What are interferon Beta and Copaxone?
Injectable disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis (first line)
124
What effect does interferon Beta and Copaxone on multiple sclerosis?
Decrease relapse rate by 1/3 Decrease severity of relapses by 50% has an effect on disability
125
What is Tecfidera ?
Oral agent used in multiple sclerosis
126
What affect does Tecfidera have on Multiple Sclerosis?
44 % reduction in relapse rate
127
How does Fingolimod work in the treatment of multiple sclerosis?
Sphingosine-1-phosphate modulator
128
What affect does Fingolimond have on multiple sclerosis?
\>50% reduction in relapse rate
129
What are the features of a large motor fibre nerve damage? Symptoms Power Sensation Reflexes
Symptoms - Weakness, unsteadiness, wasting Power- reduced Sensation - normal Reflexes - Absent
130
What are the features of a large sensory fibre nerve damage? Symptoms Power Sensation Reflexes
Symptoms - Numbness, paraesthesia, unsteadiness Power - Normal Sensation - Vibration and joint posistion sense Reflexes - Absent
131
What are the symptoms of small fibre nerve damage? Symptoms Power Sensation Reflexes
Symptoms - Pain, Dyesthesia Power - Normal Sensation - Pin prick and termperature reduced Reflexes - Present
132
What are the features of autonomic nerve damage? Symptoms Power Sensation Reflexes
Symptoms - Dizziness, Impotence and nausea Power - Normal Sensation - Normal Reflexes - Present
133
What does Radiculopathy mean?
Problem with the anterior or posterioir rami
134
How would you describe this pattern of loss?
Glove and stocking
135
What is an acute cause of Demyelinating neuropathy?
Guillaine Barre Syndrome
136
What is characterisitc of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
Progressive paraplegia over days up to 4 weeks
137
What are the sequence of events during an exacerbation of Guillian-Barre Syndrome?
Sensory symptoms Parapelgia, weakness and pain
138
What are the 6 broad families of axonal neuropathies?
Idiopathic Vaculitic Paraneoplastic Infections Drugs/toxins Metabolic
139
What infections can cause axonal neuropathies?
HIV Syphillis Lyme Hepatitis B/C
140
What drugs/toxins can cause Axonal Neuropathies?
Alcohol Amiodarone Phenytoin Chemotherapy
141
What are the metabolic causes of Axonal Neuropathies?
Diabetes B12 folate deficiencies Hypothyroidism Chronic Uremia Porphyria
142
What are the (a) chronic and (b) acute causes of autonomic neuropathy?
Chronic - Diabetes, Amyloidosis, Hereditary Acute - GBS, Porphyria
143
How can you treat Vasculitic axonal peropheral neuropathy?
Pulsed IV methylprednisolone + cyclophosphamide
144
Do cases on Peripheral lecture
DO IT
145
What is characterisitc of Non REM sleep?
Partial muscle relaxation Reduced cardiac output Snychronised rythmic EEG Non-narrative dreams
146
What is characterisitc of REM sleep?
Mostly at the end of the night EEG shows fast activity similar to being awake Atonic muscles Cerebral blood flow increased Impaired thermal regulation Narrative dreaming
147
How do you investigate narcolepsy?
Overnight polysomnography
148
What can you measure in the CSF to help with a diagnosis of Narcolepsy?
CSF hypocretin
149
What CSF hypocretin level is suggestive of narcolepsy?
less than 110pg/ml
150
What is nociceptive pain?
An appropriate physiological response to painful stimuli via an intact nervous system
151
What is neuropathic pain?
An inappropriate response caused by dysfunction in the nervous system
152
What does allodynia mean?
Pain from stimulus that is not normally painful
153
What does hyperalgesia mean?
More pain than expected from a painful stimulus
154
How do topical analgesics affect pain?
Reduce pain impusles transmitted by A-Delta-fibres and C-fibres
155
How do brain tumours commonly present?
Progerssive neurolgical deficit 70% Motor weakness 50% headache 50% sexiures 25%
156
What is classical for a headache caused by a brain tumour ?
Worse in the morning **_Wakes them up when they are asleep_** Worse with coughing and leaning forward
157
Learn this
158
What are the four grades of Astrocytic tumors?
I Pilocytic II Low grade astrocytoma III Anaplastic astrocytoma IV Glioblastoma
159
What is a Grade 1 astrocytoma?
Truly benign low growing legion
160
Who gets grade 1 astrocytomas?
Children and young adults
161
How do you treat grade 1 astrocytomas?
Surgery - Curative
162
What is this ?
Pilocytic Astrocytoma grade 1
163
Where do people normally get "low Grade" astrocytomas?
Temporal Lobe Posterior Frontal lobe Anterior Parietal lobe
164
How do low grade astrocytomas nomrally present ?
Seizures
165
What are the treatment options for grade II astrocytomas?
No treatment Raidation Chemotherapy Combined Radiation and Chemotherapy Plus or minus surgery
166
What factors suggest a poor prognosis in Grade II astrocyomas?
* Age \>45 * Low performance score * tumor \>6cm * Tumour crossing midline * Incomplete resection *
167
What is Glioblastoma Multiform?
Stage 3 / 4 astrocytoma Most common primary tumor median survival \< 1yr
168
What is an Anaplastic astrocytoma?
Grade III/IV malignant astrocytoma Median survival 2 years
169
How do you treat grade 3 and 4 astrocytomas?
Surgery - not curative but can help symptoms Post operative radiotherapy
170
Where do people get olidodendroglial tumors and at what age?
Frontal lobes Adults 25-45 yrs old
171
How do people with Oligodendroglial tumors present ?
With seizures
172
How do you treat Oligodendroglial tumors ?
Chemothrapy + surgery
173
What is the median surivial for Oligodendroglial tumors?
10 years
174
What are the brain tumor red flags for adults and children?
_Adults_ Headaches that wake you +/- vomiting New neurological deficit incl seizures _Children_ Tiptoeing, ataxia and vomiting
175
What are the red flags for headaches?
* New onset headache over aged 55 * Known/previous malignancy * Immuno-suppressed * Early morning headache * Exacerbated by valsalva
176
What exaerbating symptoms should you ask about in headaches
Posture Valsalva
177
How do you diagnose a migraine?
Pain that is 2 Of: * Moderate/severe * Unilateral * Throbing * Worst on movement And 1 of: * Photophobia * Phonophobia
178
What is the pathophysiology of Migraines?
Stress triggers changes in the brain releasing serotonin Blood vessels constrict and dilate Chemicals including substance P irritate the nerves and blood vessels
179
What is an Aura when refering to a migraine?
Fully reversible visual, sensory , motor or language symptom
180
What are common triggers for migraines ?
Sleep Dietary Stress Hormonal Physical exertion Headache diary can help identify triggers
181
How do you treat a migraine?
Aspirin Naproxen Ibuporfen ASAP ( sooner the better)
182
What are Triptans?
5HT agonist used to treat migraines Take at the start of the headache Sublingual
183
Whats the problem with triptans?
Not sure if they are really that great and they are pretty expensive
184
When would you consider prophylaxic treatment for migraines ?
More than 3 attacks per month Very severe attacks
185
What can be used as prophylaxis for migraines?
Propanolol Topiramate
186
What prophylatic affect does propanolol have on migraines?
Reduces frequency by 60-80%
187
What are the contraindications for propanolol?
Contraindicated in asthma and heart failure
188
What is the downside to using Topiramate as a prohylaxis for migraines
It takes a while to start working Many side effects:- weight loss, paraesthesia, impaired concentration enzyme inducer
189
What are trigeminal autonomic cephalgias?
Group of primary headache disorders characterised by **unilateral trigeminal distribution pain** that occurs with **prominent ipsilateral cranial autonomic features.**
190
Give examples of Ipsilateral cranial autonomic features
Ptosis Miosis Nasal stuffiness Nausea/vomiting Tearing Eye lid oedema
191
What are the 4 types of trigeminal autonomic cephalgias?
Cluster Paroxsymal hemicrania Hemicrania continua SUNCT
192
Who gets cluster headaches?
People in their 30s and 40s
193
When do people usually get cluster headaches?
Around sleep time
194
What are the features of cluster headaches How long do they last and how frequent are they
Severe unilateral headache Lasting 45-90 mins 1-8 time a day for weeks to months
195
How do you treat cluster headaches?
High flow Oxygen for 20 mins Sub cut sumatriptan 6mg Steroids reducing course over 2 weeks
196
What can be used as a prophylaxis for Cluster headaches?
Verapamil
197
Who gets paroxysmal hemicrania?
Elderly 50s-60s
198
What are the features of paroxysmal hemicrania? How long does it last? How frequent ?
Severe unilateral headache with unilateral autonomic features 10-30 mins 1-40 times a day
199
How do you treat paroxysmal hemicrania?
Responds well Indomethicin
200
What are the main differences between Paroxysmal Hemicrania and cluster headaches?
Paroxysmal Hemmicranias have a shorter duration and are more frequent than cluster headaches They also respond really well to Indomethicin
201
What does SNUCT stand for?
S - short lied (15-120 seconds) U - unilateral N - neuralgiaform headache C - conjunctival injections T - tearing
202
How do you treat SUNCT?
Lamotrigine or Gabapentin
203
What investigations would you do for someone with new onset unilateral cranial autonomic features?
MRI brain MR angiogram
204
Who gets trigeminal neuralgia?
Older people \>60 Woman
205
What triggers trigeminal neuralgia ?
Touch - usually V2/3
206
What are the features of trigeminal neuralgia? Duration ? Frequency?
Severe stabbing unilateral pain 1-90seconds 10 - 100 times a day few weeks to months before remission
207
how do you treat trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine Gabapentin Phenytoin Baclofen Surgical - Abalation vs decompression
208
When is a CT scan appropriate in someone who presents with falls/seziures ?
* Suspected skull fracture * Deterioratting GCS * Focal signs * Head injury with seizure * Failure to be GCS 15/15 4hrs after arrival
209
If it is your 1st seziure how long must you wait before you can drive again?
6 months
210
If you have epilepsy how long must you wait before driving again?
1 year or 3 years during sleep
211
What conditions are commonly confused with eplilepsy ? (i.e should be on your differential diagnosis list)
Syncope Non-epilepti attack disorder Panic attacks/Hyperventilation Sleep phenomena
212
What is Epilepsy?
A tendency to recurrent, usually spontaneous eplieptic seizures
213
What is a an eplieptic seizure?
Abnormal synchronisation of neuronal activity Usually excitaory with high frequency action potentials
214
What are the 7 types of eplileptic seizures?
_Partial_ Simple Complex _Generalised_ Absence Myoclonic Atonic Tonic Tonic Clonic
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When does primary generalized epilepsy usually present ?
Childhood or early teens
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How do you treat primary generalized epilepsy?
Sodium Valproate or Lamotrigine
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What is important to remember about Sodium Valproate?
Its teratogenic
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What is focal onsent epilepsy?
Epilepsy with an underlying stuctural cause
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How do you treat Focal onset epilepsy?
Carbamazepine Iamotrigine
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What are the symptoms of Focal onset epilepsy?
Complex partial seizures with hippocampal sclerosis
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How effective are Anti-epiletic drugs (AEDs)
55% seizure free on monotherapy
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What can be used as an anticonvulsant during an acute seizure?
Phenytoin
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What are the two best anti-convulsant?
Lamotrigine Levetiracetam
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What is important to remeber about anti-convulsants?
Interfere with the oral contraceptive pill
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What are the the three types of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage Intracerebral haemorrhage Intraventricular haemorrhage
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What is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Bleeding into the subarachnoid space
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What is the mortality of subarachnoid haemorrhages?
45% at 1 month
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How does a subarachnoid heamorrhage present?
Sudden onset: * Severe headache * Collapse * Vomiting * Neck pain * Photophobia
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What is a good investigation for looking for brian aneurisims?
Cerebral Angiography
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What is the risk of a subarachnoid heamorrage re-bleeding at (a) 2 weeks (b) 6 months
2 weeks - 20% 6 months - 50%
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After someone has a subarachnoid heamorrage what 3 things do you have to look out for ?
Delayed Ischaemia Hydrocephalus Hyponaturaemia
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How do you treat delayed ischaemia ?
Nimodipine
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How do you treat hydrocephalus?
CSF draingage
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What is an intracerebral haemorrhage?
Bleeding into the brain parenchyma
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What is the most common cause of Intracerebral haemorrhages?
Hypertension - 50%
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How do intracerebral haemorrhages present?
Headache Focal neurological deficit Decreased conscious level
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How do you treat intracerebral haemorrahge?
Surgical evacuation of haematoma
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What is a Intraventricular haemorrhage and how does it happen?
Bleeding into a ventricle Occurs with rupture of a subarachnoid or intracerebral bleed into a ventricle
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What are the clincial features of a upper motor neurone lesion?
Increased tone Hyper reflexia Muscle wasting No fasiculation
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What are the clinical features of a lower motor neurone lesion?
Decreased tone Muscle wasting Fasciculation Diminished reflexes
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What do the spinothalamic tracts do?
Pain temperature crude touch
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Do the spinothalamic trats govern the ipsilateral or contralateral side of the body?
Contralateral
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What do the Dorsal columns of the spinal cord do?
Fine touch Proprioception Vibration
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What is motor neuron disease?
untreatable and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition
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How does motor neurone disease progress?
Starts focal and then spreads continously untill generalzed paresis
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What is the average survival time of Motor Neuron disease?
3 years
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Is motor neuron disease familial or sporadic?
10% familial , 90% sporadic
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What is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
It is the most common subtype of motor neuron disease
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What is the most common age range for motor neuron disease?
50-75 year
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Where does Motor Neuron Disease usually start?
Normally extremeties ( mostly upper)
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What things must you warm someone with parkisnons about when they are first starting on Levodopa?
Impulse control disorders made worse Sleepiness Psychotic symptoms
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What is the frist lime pharmacological treatment for alzehmiers ?
Acetlylholinesterase inhibitors Donepezil Galantamine Rivastigmine
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What is the second line pharmacological treatment for alzehimers?
Memantine NMDA antagois