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68 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the central nervous system made up of? |
The brain and spinal cord. |
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What are seizures? |
A sudden erratic firing of neurons. |
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What is status epilepticus? |
A seizure that last for longer than 4–5 minutes or consecutive seizures that occur without consciousness returning between seizure episodes. |
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What does every cell in our body need? |
-Sugar -Oxygen -Safe temperature |
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What does idiopathic mean? |
There is no known cause. |
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What are the steps of a tonic-clonic seizure? |
1. Aura 2. Loss of consciousness 3. Tonic phase 4. Hypertonic phase 5. Clonic phase 6. Postseizure 7. Postictal |
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What is aura? |
A sensation the patient experiences before a seizure occurs. |
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What happens in the tonic phase? |
Body-wide rigidity. |
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What happens in the hypertonic phase? |
Arched back and rigidity. |
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What happens in the clonic phase? |
Rhythmic contraction of major muscle groups. Arm, let, head movement; lip smacking; biting; teeth clenching. |
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What happens post seizure? |
Major muscles relax, nystagmus may still be occurring. Eyes may be rolled back. |
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What is postictal? |
The reset period of the brain after a seizure. This can take several minutes to hours before the patient gradually returns to the preseizure LOC. |
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What is a tonic-clonic seizure? |
A seizure presenting with a loss of consciousness, followed by generalized muscle contraction alternating with rhythmic, jerking movements. This can occur at any age. |
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What is a absence seizure? |
A seizure presenting with staring episodes, or absence spells. Includes loss of motor control with eye blinking or lip smacking. Most common in children between 4 and 12 years of age. |
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What do you do if you cannot figure out why the patient is seizing? |
Keep assessing ABC's |
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What happens during intracranial pressure (ICP)? |
The brain hemorrhages, causing the brain to swell and push out of the foramen magnum. This can be diagnosed if the patient has a high BP, low HR, and irregular RR. |
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What is cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)? |
The pressure of blood within the cranial vault. |
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How can cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) be calculated? |
CPP = MAP - ICP |
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What is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)? |
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function. |
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What is an ischemic stroke? |
When a blood vessel is blocked, so the tissue distal to the blockage becomes ischemic. Eventually that tissue will die if blood flow is not restored. |
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What is a hemorrhagic CVA? |
Bleeding within the cranium, possibly increasing ICP and leads to herniation of the brain stem. Causes severe headache. |
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What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)? |
An episode of cerebral ischemia that do not inflict any permanent damage. |
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What is AEIOU-TIPS? |
A - alcohol E - epilepsy I - insulin O - overdose U - uremia (uric acid) T - trauma I - infection P - psychosis / poison S - stroke |
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What is prodrome? |
Signs or symptoms that precede a disease or condition. |
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What are abscesses? |
Areas created as a result of infection within the brain or spinal cord, in which brain cells have been attacked and tissue destroyed. The immune system erects a wall to prevent spread of the infection, which results in a pus-filed area buried in tissue. |
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What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? |
An autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the myelin sheath of the neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to areas of scarring. |
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What is a neoplasm? |
Defined as cancer within the brain or spinal cord. |
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What is dystonia? |
Dystonia are marked by severe, abnormal muscle spasms that cause bizarre contortions, repetitive motions, or postures. |
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What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? AKA Lou Gehrig disease |
A disease that involves the death of voluntary motor neurons, for unclear reasons. |
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What are endotoxins? |
Toxins released by some bacteria when they die. |
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What are exotoxins? |
Toxins that are secreted by living cells to aid in the death and digestion of other cells. |
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What is decorticate posturing?
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When the patient flexes the arms and curls them toward the chest. They will point their toes and the wrists will also flex. This indicates damage to the area directly below the cerebral hemispheres. |
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What is decerebrate posturing?
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When the patient extends the arms outward and rotates the lower arms in a palms-down manner. The toes point and the wrists flex. This posture is more severe than decorticate, as the level of damage is within or near the brain stem. |
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What is trismus? |
When the teeth are clenched closed. |
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What is agnosia? |
Patients can speak, but are unable to name common objects and the words that name them become damaged. |
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What is apraxia? |
Refers to the inability to know how to use a common object. |
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What is receptive aphasia? |
When a patient cannot understand (receive) speech, but is able to speak clearly. |
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What is expressive aphasia? |
When a patient can't speak clearly, but is able to understand speech. |
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What is global aphasia? |
This form of aphasia is a combination of expressive and receptive aphasia. In this setting, the patient will not follow commands and can't answer your questions. |
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What is anisocoria? |
Unequal pupils. |
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What is nystagmus? |
The involuntary, rhythmic movement of the eyes. |
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What is hemiparesis and hemiplegia? |
Weakness and paralysis. |
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What is myoclonus? |
A type of involuntary contraction of the muscles that is rapid and jerky in nature. Example: myoclonic jerk |
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What is dystonia? |
When a part of the body contracts and remains contracted. |
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What is a normal BGL? |
4-7 mmol/L |
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What are normal SpO2 readings? |
95% - 100% |
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When do you hyperventilate patients? |
Only when patients with documented unconsciousness and signs of increased ICP. |
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What is a behavioural disorder?
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A disorder of mood, thought, or behaviour that interferes with a person's ability to perform activities of daily living. |
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What is a behavioural emergency? |
When the abnormal behaviour threatens a person's health and safety or the health and safety of another person. |
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What is bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa? |
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by consumption of large amounts of food, and compensation by purging techniques. Anorexia nervosa differs from bulimia in one important characteristic, they are successful at losing weight. They are so effective at losing weight that they jeopardize their health and even their lives. |
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What is dysthymic disorder? |
A chronic form of depression when a person experiences signs and symptoms of depression for more days than not for a period of at least 2 years. |
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What is the most common prescribed medications for depression? |
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. |
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What is tangential thinking?
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When a patients thoughts are racing; their monologues skip rapidly from one topic to another. |
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What is an acute dystonic reaction? |
When a patient develops muscle spasms of the neck, face, and back within a few days of starting treatment with antipsychotic agents. |
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How is a personality disorder defined? |
When a person's way of relating to others become dysfunctional or cause distress to other people, that person is considered to have a personality disorder. |
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What is depersonalization? |
When a patient loses his or her own sense of reality. |
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What is derealization? |
When objects seem to change size or shape; people may seem dead or behave like robots. |
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What is stereotyped activity? |
The repetition of movements that don't seem to serve any useful purpose. |
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What is labile affect? |
When a patient is laughing one moment and crying the next. |
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What is a flat affect? |
When the patient does not seem to feel much of anything at all. |
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What are the four separate functions of memory? |
-Registration -Retention -Recall -Recognition |
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What is confabulation? |
When patients will invent experiences to fill in the gaps in memory. |
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What is the first step in assessing a patient with a behavioural emergency? |
Rule out an organic illness. |
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What does the mnemonic COASTMAP stand for? |
-Consciousness -Orientation -Activity -Speech -Thought -Memory -Affect and mood -Perception |
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What is MSE? |
Mental status examination. |
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What is the key to managing a disoriented patient? |
Keep orienting the patient to time, place, and the people in the environment. Tell the patient who you are and what you're doing. |
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What is DKA?
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Diabetic Ketoacidosis |
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What is HONK? |
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State |
