Neurological Emergencies Flashcards
6 cards from real CEN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Neurological Emergencies flashcards as text
Cushing's triad, indicating severely elevated ICP, consists of which three findings?
Answer: Bradycardia, hypertension, irregular respirations
Cushing's triad is bradycardia, hypertension (widened pulse pressure), and irregular respirations, representing a brainstem response to severely elevated ICP.
A patient taking phenytoin presents with a seizure. Phenytoin level is therapeutic. Which electrolyte abnormality is the most common correctable cause of breakthrough seizures?
Answer: Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disturbance causing or exacerbating seizures, and must be corrected carefully to avoid osmotic demyelination.
A patient presents with altered mental status, fever, autonomic instability, and clonus after starting a new SSRI. What condition should be suspected?
Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is caused by excess serotonergic activity and presents with the triad of altered mental status, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular abnormalities including clonus.
Which imaging finding on non-contrast CT is most consistent with a hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage?
Answer: Hyperdense lesion in the basal ganglia
Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage most commonly occurs in the basal ganglia (putamen) and appears as a hyperdense (bright white) lesion on non-contrast CT.
A patient presents with ascending muscle weakness that began in the lower extremities one week after a GI illness. Deep tendon reflexes are absent. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer: Guillain-Barré syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy that presents with ascending weakness and areflexia, often triggered by a preceding infection.
What is the priority assessment in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to the emergency department?
Answer: Serial pulmonary function testing (NIF and FVC)
The greatest risk in GBS is respiratory failure from ascending paralysis; serial negative inspiratory force (NIF) and FVC monitoring guides the need for intubation.