Neuro Flashcards
Signs of MCA stroke
CL facial weakness (forehead sparing) Hemiparesis Hemisensory loss Hemineglect Receptive/expressive dysphasia Quadrantanopia /homonymous hemianopia
Signs of ACA stroke
Motor cortex:
contralateral Lower limb weakness (hemiparesis/hemiplegia)
Pelvic floor weakness
Sensory cortex:
Contralateral leg/pernieum loss
Urinary incontinence
Frontal lobe: Disinhibition syndrome
Olfactory: Anosmia
Signs of PCA stroke
Occipital lobe:
cerebellar syndrome
brainstem
CL homonymous hemianopia +macular sparing.
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery infarct: Lateral medullary syndrome:
- Vertigo
-Ipsilateral ataxia, Horners, hemifacial sensory loss
-dysarthria/hoarsness
dysphagia
nystagmus
-CL pain/temp sensory loss.
Investigations of Stroke
ECG -arrythmias
Echo - Thrombi, endocarditis, shunts
Bloods: FBC - U+Es: renal impairment Lipids glucose ESR
Carotid Doppler +/- angio
CTH - detect haemorrhage
>6h.
MRI brain. - more sensitive.
Management Ischaemic stroke
ABCDE
NBM until SALT
Monitor Glucose
BP <185/110
neuro Obs.
<4.5h from onset.
CT Head rule out bleed.
MEDICAL: IV thrombolysis (alteplase /r-tpa)
hold aspirin for 24h.
thrombectomy if occlusion of proximal anterior circulation.
>4.5h from onset. CT head exclude ICH Aspirin 300mg, clop 75mg. Heparin if high risk of emboli recurrence/stroke progression. (metallic valves) SALT r/v->?NG tube. Thromboprophylaxis.
SURGICAL: if mass effect - <48h. HEMICRANIECTOMY
Stroke unit:
Specialist nursing, physio
Early mobilisation
DVT prophylaxis.
secondary prevention
rehab.
Primary prevention of stroke
Control HTN Lipids DM Smoking cardiac disease Lifelong anticoagulation if AF carotid endartectomy if symptomatic 70% stenosis. exercise
Secondary prevention of stroke
RF control
-start statin after 48h
Aspirin/clopi 300mg 2weeks after a stroke,
then 75mg clopi,
DOAC if cardioembolic/AF.
Rehab: MENDS
MDT - physio, salt, dietician, ot, spns, neurologist, family.
Eating - screen swallowing -?NG/PEG with specialist,
screen malnutrition (MUST)
Neuro rehab - physio, speech therapy, botulinum if spasticity.
DVT prophylaxis.
Sores.
OT
- impairment
disability
handicap
Lacunar stroke
Small infarcts around basal ganglia, internal capsule
thalamus, pons.
Pure motor: internal capsule.
CL Hemiparesis/hemiplegia face/arm/leg.
Dysarthria/dysphagia
Pure sensory: thalamus
CL numbness.
Dysarthria/clumsy hand pons.
Ataxic hemiparesis internal capsule.
-weakness/clumsiness ipsilateral side. LEg >arm
Mixed sensorimotor(internal capsule) -hemiparesis/plegia+ sensory impairment
Causes of stroke
Ischaemia (80%) - atheroma (large e.g.MCA/small - lacunar), embolism (cardiac - AF, Endocarditis, MI, cardioversion, prosthetic valves)
Atherothromboembolism - carotids.
Haemorrhage - BP, Trauma, aneurysm, anticoagulation, thrombolysis
Sepsis- watershed stroke carotid dissection vasculitis cerebral vasospasm - SAH Venous sinus thrombosis APS, thrombophilia
Risk factors for stroke
HTN Smoking DM lipids fh PVD Prev hx black, asian PCV OCP
Millard gubler syndrome
Pontine infarct 6th/7th CN nuclei + corticospinal tracts - DIPLOPIA -LMN facial palsy/loss of corneal reflex. -CL hemiplegia.
Locked in syndrome
Ventral pons infartion - Basilar artery.
Central pontine myelinolysis - rapid correction of Hyponatremia
Aware and cognitively intact -> completely paralysed other than eye muscles.
Differentials of stroke
Head injury +/- haemorrhage Hyper/Hypoglycaemia SOL Hemiplegic migraine Todds palsy (post ictal) Infections (encephalitis, abscess, toxo, HIV, HTLV) Drugs (opiates)
TIA definition
Sudden onset focal neurology lasting <24h due to temporary occlusion of part of cerebral circulation.
Stroke definition
rapid onset, focal neurological deficit due to a vascular lesion lasting >24h
Signs TIA causes
Carotid bruits
BP raised
heart murmur
Af
Causes of TIA
Atherothromboembolism from carotids
cardioembolism - AF, post MI, valve.
Hyperviscosity - PCV, SCD, myeloma.
Differential of TIA
Vascular - CVA, migraine, GCA
Epilepsy
hyperventilation
Hypoglycaemia
Ix TIA
Aim to find cause and define vascular risk: Bloods: FBC, U+E, ESR, GLucose, Lipid CXR, ECG Echo Carotid doppler +/- angio Consider MRI/CT
MX TIA
speed of intervention prevents strokes.
avoid driving 1mo.
- Antiplatelet/anticoagulate
- Aspirin/Clopi 300mg for 2w then 75mg. Add Dipyridamole to aspirin.
Warfarin/rivaroxaban if cardiac emboli - Cardiac RF control
- BP, LIPIDS, DM, smoking.
exercise
- diet, salt,
3. Assess risk with ABCD2 score Age >60 BP>140/90 Unilateral weakness 2 Speech disturbance wo weakness 1 other sx 0 Duration of symptoms >1h 2 10m-1h 1 <10m 0 Hx DM 1
> /= 4 -> TIA clinic in 24h
< 4 -> in 1 week.
Carotid endartectomy
if >70% stenosis + symptoms.
within 2 weeks.
SDH Definition.
Bleeding from bridging veins between cortex and sinuses. Haematoma between dura and arachnoid. Minor trauma. deceleration injuries.
SDH RFs
Elderly (brain atrophy)
Falls (epileptics, alcoholics)
Anticoagulation
SDH symptoms
Headache Fluctuating GCS Sleepiness Gradual physical/mental slowing Unsteadiness
SDH Signs
Raised ICP (can -> tentorial herniation) Localising signs late