Case 16 Flashcards
(319 cards)
Uncal herniation is caused by…
Raised intracranial pressure
Uncal herniation
Uncus (medial edge of temporal lobe) forced below tentorium cerebelli to compress the midbrain.
Signs of uncal herniation
Abnormal posture
Poor GCS
Eye down and out, enlarged ipsilateral pupil and absent light reflex (compression of CNIII)
Potential coma (compression of midbrain)
Central/Trans Tentorial Herniation
Entire brain moving downward.
Can see symmetric downward movement of thalamic structures.
Compression of upper midbrain, therefore affecting pons and medulla as well.
Signs of Central/Trans Tentorial Herniation
Diabetes insipidus (compression of pituitary stalk)
Dilated fixed pupils.
Paralysis of upper eye movement (AKA sunset eyes)
False localising sign.
Most common brain herniation
Cingulate/Subfalcine/Transfalcine
Cingulate/Subfalcine/Transfalcine Herniation
Displacement of brain (typically cingulate gyrus) under falx cerebri, across midline
Signs of Cingulate/Subfalcine/Transfalcine Herniation
Few signs since brainstem relatively preserved.
Contralateral obstructive hydrocephalus (due to obstruction of interventricular foramen between lateral and 3rd ventricles)
Contralateral leg weakness (compression of anterior cerebral artery)
Foramen of Monroe
Interventricular foramen between lateral ventricles and 3rd ventricle.
Foraminal/Tonsillar Herniation
Downward herniation of cerebellar tonsils into foramen magnum.
Signs of Foraminal/Tonsillar Herniation
Respiratory arrest (compression of respiratory centre in medulla)
Instant deterioration
No other signs since structures superior to medulla are unaffected.
Vertebral arteries arise from…
Subclavian arteries
Vertebral arteries fuse to form…
Basilar artery
Blood supply to brainstem
Vertebral and basilar arteries.
Therefore, strokes involving these arteries have a high mortality (85%) since brainstem controls life support functions.
Ascending Reticular Activating System (ASAS) controls…
Consciousness
Consists of many components in brainstem - damage results in coma.
Signs/Symptoms of damage to spinothalamic tract
Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation on the body
Signs/Symptoms of damage to trigeminal tract
Ipsilateral loss of pain/temperature sensation on the face
Nucleus Ambiguus
Located in medullary reticular activating system.
Innervation of muscles of soft palate, pharynx and larynx
Signs/Symptoms of damage to Nucleus Ambiguus and Nerve roots of CNIX and X
Dysphagia
Hoarseness
Loss of gag reflex
Lateral medullary syndrome is caused by
Occlusion of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
Signs/Symptoms of damage to Hypothalamospinal Fibres (Dorsal Longitudinal Fasciculus
Ipsilateral Horner’s Syndrome
Signs/Symptoms of damage to Vestibular Nuclei
Vetigo
Tendency to fall to ipsilateral side
Diplopia (double vision)
Signs/Symptoms of damage to spinocerebellar tract
Ipsilateral ataxia
Cause of lateral medullary syndrome
PICA occlusion