Vocabulary
What is Coma?
A state of profound, unconsciousness.
What is a CVA or stroke?
An interruption of blood flow to an area within the brain that results in loss of brain function.
The stroke mimic that deals with blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia
What causes epilepsy?
It is a congenital disorder
What is syncope?
fainting
What is aneurysm?
A swelling or enlargement of the wall of an artery resulting from the defect or weakening of the wall.
What are the 2 types of stroke?
Ischemic & Hemorrhagic
The stroke mimic that has to do with seizures.
postictal state
What do we call seizures lasting more than 5 minutes?
What is status epilepticus?
How can you tell altered mental status from stroke?
One sided weakness.
What is aphasia?
The inability to produce or understand speech.
Name a common sign of a left hemisphere stroke?
Aphasia
The stroke mimic that has to do with bleeding in the brain.
intracranial bleed
Name 4 common causes of seizures
epilepsy, structural, metabolic, febrile
Name 3 causes of altered mental status other than stroke.
head injury, intoxication, syncope, hypoglycemia
What is incontinence?
Loss of bowel or bladder control.
Name a sign of a Right Hemisphere stroke?
Neglect
What 2 things are needed for brain metabolism?
Oxygen & glucose
What is a common sign that someone has had a seizure?
Incontinence, postictal state
You are called to a residence with a 56 year old female with altered mental status. You find the patient laying on a couch. Her eyes are open and she is able to speak with you but is confused. What is the next part of the GCS? And how will you test it?
Motor response. and you will ask the patient to move a part of their body.
Temporary state that often has a physical or mental cause. S&S: confusion, disorientation, personality changes, hallucinations.
Name 5 signs and symptoms of stroke?
facial drooping, sudden weakness to one side of the body, ataxia, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, decreased LOC, aphasia, slurred speech, headache, dizziness, confusion, restlessness
What 2 things can you do during your assessment to help rule out a stroke mimic?
Blood sugar and capnography or oxygen saturation
Name 2 different types of seizures
epileptic, febrile, generalized, focal, status epilepticus
The GCS scale has 3 parts what are they?
Eye opening, Verbal response, motor response