DCAS Neurological Emergencies

Question 1

Which component is NOT part of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?

Accepted Answer

Pupil reactivity

Answer

The GCS assesses eye opening, verbal response, and motor response only; pupil reactivity is assessed separately.

Question 2

A patient presents with sudden facial drooping on the right side, right arm weakness, and slurred speech. Which mnemonic best helps identify this as a stroke?

Accepted Answer

FAST

Answer

FAST (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call) is the primary stroke recognition tool used in pre-hospital care.

Question 3

A patient is in active tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes. What is the first-line pre-hospital treatment?

Accepted Answer

IM/IV midazolam or IV diazepam

Answer

Benzodiazepines (midazolam IM or diazepam IV) are the first-line treatment for status epilepticus in the pre-hospital setting.

Question 4

A 60-year-old male presents with sudden-onset confusion, diaphoresis, and focal weakness. Blood glucose reads 2.1 mmol/L. What is the priority intervention?

Accepted Answer

Administer IV dextrose 50% or glucagon IM

Answer

Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke; with a glucose of 2.1 mmol/L, correcting hypoglycemia with dextrose or glucagon is the priority before any stroke workup.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)?

Accepted Answer

A neurological deficit that resolves completely within 24 hours without infarction

Answer

A TIA is a temporary episode of neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain ischaemia that resolves completely, typically within minutes to hours, with no evidence of infarction.

DCAS Practice Test

DCAS Practice Test

DCAS Neurological Emergencies