emt module chapter 18: neurological emergencies

What is the difference between a stroke and a transient ischemic attack?

A TIA resolves completely within 24 hours of onset.

You are dispatched to a home where you find a 70-year-old man. He is exhibiting facial drooping and, when you ask him to tell you what day it is, he says, "January." Which part of the brain is most likely to have been affected?

Aphasia is the inability to produce or understand speech. This occurs when the left hemisphere of the cerebrum is impacted by a stroke.

Which of the following is a metabolic cause for a seizure?

Hypoglycemia is a metabolic cause of seizures.

Which of the following mimics a stroke and also causes seizure?

Hypoglycemia mimics stroke and can cause seizures due to low blood glucose levels.

What happens when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage, resulting in tissue damage?

Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage inside a blood vessel.

You are examining a patient whose signs include lip smacking, jerking of the left arm, and agitation. Based on these signs, which type of seizure is this patient experiencing?

Lip smacking, jerking of the left arm, and agitation are signs of a complex partial seizure.

What is the name of the condition in which the patient forgets about the injured side after a stroke?

Neglect is a symptom in which a patient with right hemisphere strokes may forget about injuries on the left side of the body.

Which criterion must be met for a patient to be considered as having status epilepticus?

Status epilepticus is characterized by seizures that recur every few minutes or last longer than 30 minutes.

You are treating a patient who is exhibiting slurred speech, facial droop, and an inability to move his left arm. Which neurologic examination tool emphasizes these possible stroke signs?

The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale looks at facial droop, arm lift, and speech.

You are performing a Glasgow Coma Scale on a patient who opens her eyes in response to pain, is confused in her responses to questions, and has abnormal flexion. What is this patient's GCS score and corresponding state of dysfunction?

This patient has a GCS score of 9: response to pain = 2; confused conversation = 4; abnormal flexion = 3.