Raised Intracranial Pressure and Herniation Syndromes

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Raised Intracranial Pressure and Herniation Syndromes

Secondary to breakdown of blood-brain barrier, leakage of (normally excluded) intravascular proteins and fluid into the cerebral interstitial space. Primarily affects white matter. Seen around tumours, abscesses. Can occur in…

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Head Injury: Extradural Haematoma

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Head Injury: Extradural Haematoma

Brief posttraumatic loss of consciousness. Followed by recovery and a ‘lucid interval’ (between initial trauma and subsequent neurological deterioration). Leading to neurological decline with decreasing GCS. Finally, if untreated, death…

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Coma and Brainstem Death

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Coma and Brainstem Death

Toxic: Alcohol abuse and overdose with drugs, for example opiates. Metabolic/endocrine: Hypoglycaemia, hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma and diabetic ketoacidosis in diabetes; electrolyte disturbances, including hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia and hypercalcaemia; renal failure…

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CNS Neoplasia

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on CNS Neoplasia

Remember: Cerebral metastases are the most common tumours in the CNS. History and Examination For presentation of specific tumour types, please see Appendices 1 and 2. The following are the…

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Head Injury: General Approach and Management

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Head Injury: General Approach and Management

Remember: Spinal injuries (see Chapter 35) are strongly associated with head injury. Ensure head-injured patients are immobilised in a hard cervical collar and log-rolled until the spine is cleared clinically…

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Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

Remember: Although the different syndromes in MND progress with a varying rate of evolution, eventually they overlap significantly and in late stages merge into a diffuse combined UMN and LMN…

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Stroke I: Thromboembolic Stroke and Syndromes

Jul 16, 2016 by in NEUROSURGERY Comments Off on Stroke I: Thromboembolic Stroke and Syndromes

Clinical Syndromes History/Examination Because of the anatomy of the cerebral vasculature, thromboembolic stroke tends to result in particular sets of symptoms and signs or ‘stroke syndromes’. Many of these are…

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