Head Nose Sinus Flashcards
(175 cards)
• What are the 5 general approaches to seeing a patient?
o History, physical exam, laboratory (as indicated), imaging/procedure (as indicated), referral (as indicated)
• What are some hx question?
o Head pain? (get full history with presentation of head pain)
o Accompanying symptoms (eg. eye, ears, cranial nerves, neurologic, GI, temperature, etc)
o History of head injury? Any loss of consciousness?
o Lesions, tumors, scalp hair loss?
• What are some things involved in the PE?
o Observation: normocephalic (microcephalic, macrocephalic)
o Vitals
o Palpation of head and scalp: lesions, masses, tenderness; On infants, examine fontanelles
o Full exam of Ears, Eyes, Nose, Sinus, Throat, Neck
o Appropriate neurological exams (CN, peripheral, orientation, cognitive)
• What are some common labs?
o ESR, CRP, CBC, CMP
• What are some common imaging/procedures?
o MRI, CT, angiography, lumbar puncture and CSF analysis
• What are some common referrals?
o Emergency, Neurology, Dermatology
• What is the mortality of a head trauma?
o ~ 50% with severe injury (more deaths & disability than other neuro cause in >50 yo)
o Damage to nerve tissue, blood vessels and meninges can result in neural disruption, ischemia, hemorrhage and edema
• What are the 2 types of head traumas?
o Open and closed head injuries
• What may be the effects of an open head injury?
o Emergency
o Piercing of the skull, direct trauma e.g. GSW (gunshot wound)
o direct effects from the tissue damage and shock waves
• How may closed head injuries occur? Emergency?
o Emergency or urgency
o Eg. acceleration-deceleration injury (whiplash)- local injury and opposite side of skull
o “contra-coup injury”
• How is the severity of closed head injuries based?
o loss of consciousness or not
o presence or absence of neurologic signs
• What are the 2 classes of closed head injuries?
o Primary and secondary injuries
• What are the 3 types of primary head injuries?
o Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI)-simple concussion
o Moderate diffuse TBI
o Severe diffuse TBI
• What are the grades of severity of mild TBI?
o American Academy of Neurology guidelines
o Grade 1- Confusion, sx last < 15 min, no LOC
o Grade 2- Symptoms last >15 min, no LOC
o Grade 3- LOC for seconds to minutes
• What are the signs and symptoms of mild TBI?
o No to brief loss of consciousness, dilated pupils, breathing stops, muscles flaccid heart slows.
o Recovery in seconds to minutes- may have days to weeks of giddiness, anxiety, poor concentration, headaches, sleep disturbance
• What PE should be done for mild TBI?
o perform neuro exam; CT scan may be needed if persistent symptoms
• What is characteristic of a moderate diffuse TBI?
o Unconsciousness for up to an hour with slower recovery of orientation and behavior.
• What are the signs and symptoms for moderate diffuse TBI?
o Lethargic for 1-7 days. Many have agitation or anxiety
o Imaging: CT may be normal or may show scattered petechiae or contusion in brain. May show hematoma at contra-coup position
• What is the treatment for moderate diffuse TBI?
o hospitalization to watch for complications; rest (physical & cognitive), NO alcohol or drugs
• What are red flag symptoms in moderate diffuse TBI?
o unconsciousness, altered mental status, convulsions, persistent HA, extremity weakness, bleeding from ear(s), loss of hearing
• What is the prognosis for moderate diffuse TBI?
o Complete recovery in days to weeks in those under 40yrs. Those > 40 may have permanent intellectual and psychological effects. Worse prognosis in alcohol/drug abusers.
• How is severe diffuse TBI categorized?
o by patient response rather than the injury
• What are the signs and symptoms of severe diffuse TBI?
o Severe brain edema, ischemic infarction, hemorrhages-immediate or delayed several hours (20%)
o usu. deep unconsciousness from the start
o Respiratory obstruction due to aspiration of vomit or saliva
o Brain stem damage shown by bilateral pupillary fixation, slow responses to light, or anisocoria
• What is the treatment for severe diffuse TBI?
o emergency hospitalization required