Neurological Emergencies Flashcards
7 cards from real EMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neurological Emergencies flashcards as text
A patient presents with sudden dizziness, nausea, difficulty walking, and slurred speech but no facial droop or arm weakness. What type of stroke is most likely?
Answer: Posterior circulation (cerebellar/brainstem) stroke
Posterior circulation strokes affect the cerebellum and brainstem, causing ataxia, vertigo, dysarthria, and dysphagia without the classic hemispheric deficits of arm weakness or facial droop.
Which of the following is a contraindication to administering oral glucose to a hypoglycemic patient?
Answer: Patient is unconscious or unable to protect their airway
An unconscious or unresponsive patient cannot safely swallow and is at risk for aspiration; oral glucose should never be given when a patient cannot protect their airway.
Todd's paralysis following a seizure is best described as:
Answer: Temporary, focal weakness or paralysis on one side of the body that resolves after minutes to hours
Todd's paralysis is a transient focal neurological deficit occurring after a seizure that can mimic stroke and typically resolves within minutes to a few hours.
What is the primary prehospital management priority for a patient with suspected increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Answer: Preventing hypoxia and hypotension
Hypoxia (SpO2 <90%) and hypotension (SBP <90 mmHg) both worsen secondary brain injury; their prevention is the top prehospital priority in suspected increased ICP.
A patient is found unresponsive with pinpoint pupils, cyanosis, and a respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Opioid overdose
Pinpoint (miotic) pupils, respiratory depression, and unconsciousness form the classic triad of opioid toxidrome, treatable with naloxone.
The Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS) differs from the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale in that it:
Answer: Includes exclusion criteria such as age, seizure history, and blood glucose to rule out stroke mimics
The LAPSS adds exclusion criteria—including age over 45, seizure history, blood glucose level, and baseline neurological status—to improve stroke specificity by ruling out mimics.
When a patient is actively seizing on scene, what is the EMT's first priority after ensuring scene safety?
Answer: Protect the patient from environmental hazards and monitor the airway
During an active seizure, the EMT should move harmful objects away, position the patient safely, and monitor the airway—restraining the patient or forcing an airway device can cause injury.