Neurological Acute And Chronic Illness

Front 1

What are the two primary components of consciousness?

Back 1

AROUSAL & CONTENT
AROUSAL: brainstem function that governs wakefulness particularly in the reticular activating system
CONTENT: the sum of cerebral hemisphere functions (thought, behavior, language, expression)

Front 2

What are the two primary components of consciousness?
Define each one.

Back 2

AROUSAL & CONTENT
AROUSAL: brainstem function that governs wakefulness particularly in the reticular activating system
CONTENT: the sum of cerebral hemisphere functions (thought, behavior, language, expression)

Hint 2

A & C

Front 3

What do disruptions in either/both arousal and content cause?

Back 3

Altered level of consciousness.

Front 4

Name some structural problems that cause altered level of consciousness.

Back 4

Tumors
Cerebral Edema
Brain Trauma
Cerebral Emboli

Front 5

Name some metabolic problems that cause altered level of consciousness.

Back 5

Hypoglycemia
Hypoxia
Diabetic Keto Acidosis
Hyponatermia
Opioids
Lead Toxicity
Hypothermia
Seizures

Front 6

Define a "persistent vegetative state".
When does it develop?
What functions are intact?
What function are not intact?

Back 6

Condition where patient demonstrates eye opening and sleepwake cycles that indicate arousal, but don't exhibit cognitive function. Develops after sever bain trauma.
Functions of the brainstem (respirator drive, brain stem reflexes, Some RAS) are intact.
Cognition that allow them to interact with there environment are not intact.

Front 7

Define "locked-in syndrome".
What can and can't they do?

Back 7

Condition where motor pathways in brainstem are destroyed but RAS & highter cognitive functions intact.
Can move eyes, think, sensory perception
Can't: move, speak

Front 8

What are the criteria for being brain dead (4 total).

Back 8

1)Coma has know cause and is unreversible.
2)Unresposive to external stimuli.
3)Absent brainstem function.
4)Absent respiratory effort and presence of hypercapnea.

Front 9

What can you use to assess LOC?

Back 9

Mental Status Exams
Motor Exam (strength, coordination, stimulus)
Symmetry of Facial Expression
Sensory
Cranial Nerve Exam
Glasgow Coma Scale

Front 10

Explain the negative pathophysiology for increased intracranial pressure.

Back 10

As pressure increases arterial perfusion decreases due to compression leading to ischemia then hypoxia then necrosis. CO2 increases resulting in dilation of cerebral arteries resulting in increased ICP.

Hint 10

^pressure>perfusion decreases
CO2

Front 11

What are the 3 places that brain herniation occurs.

Back 11

Falx cerebri
Uncal
Transforaminal

Hint 11

T.U.F.

Front 12

What are the early and late signs of increased intracranial pressure.

Back 12

Early: Decresed LOC (best) and headache.
Late: Decline in LOC, elevated SBP, decreased DBP, heat rate < 60, shallow slow respirations/apnea/irregular respirations, decorticate or decerebrate posturing, dilation of one or both pupils, fever.