EMT Chapter 15 Neurological Emergencies

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following are the three major parts of the brain?

Cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus

Frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe

Cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem (correct)

Brain stem, hippocampus, and amygdala

What controls the basic functions of breathing, blood pressure, and swallowing?

brain stem

Which part of the brain controls muscle control and body coordination?

cerebellum

Which side of the body does the left cerebral hemisphere control?

right side Signup and view all the answers

What does the anterior aspect of the cerebrum control?

emotion Signup and view all the answers

Where does the spinal cord exit the cranium?

foramen magnum Signup and view all the answers

Which conditions would MOST likely affect the entire brain?

Cardiopulmonary arrest Signup and view all the answers

Interruption of cerebral blood flow may result from all of the following, EXCEPT:

Cerebral vasodilation Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of an ischemic stroke?

blockage of a cerebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What condition has the patient most likely experienced if he has a sudden, severe headache and is unresponsive?

a ruptured cerebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What is the MOST significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke?

hypertension Signup and view all the answers

What do you call an area of swelling in a weakened arterial wall?

an aneurysm Signup and view all the answers

Which clinical sign is MOST suggestive of a ruptured cerebral artery?

sudden, severe headache Signup and view all the answers

When does a transient ischemic attack (TIA) occur?

when the normal body processes destroy a clot in a cerebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a patient is experiencing aphasia?

unable to produce or understand speech Signup and view all the answers

What is happening if a patient's speech is slurred and difficult to understand?

dysarthria Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions would be the LEAST likely to mimic the signs and symptoms of a stroke?

Hypovolemia Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a generalized seizure?

severe twitching of all the body's muscles Signup and view all the answers

What is an absence seizure also referred to as?

petit mal seizure Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a simple partial seizure?

a seizure that begins in one extremity Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to happen to the mental status of a patient after a typical seizure?

is likely to improve over a period of 5 to 30 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What experiences will a patient have during the postictal state after a seizure?

confusion and fatigue Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes status epilepticus?

prolonged seizures without a return of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions is NOT a common cause of seizures?

Severe hypovolemia Signup and view all the answers

Which is a metabolic cause of a seizure?

poisoning Signup and view all the answers

Which medication is NOT used to treat a patient with a history of seizures?

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Signup and view all the answers

What are febrile seizures?

are usually benign but should be evaluated Signup and view all the answers

What should you do for a child experiencing a seizure after a high fever?

transport the child to the hospital and reassure the mother en route Signup and view all the answers

When obtaining further medical history from a girlfriend of a male who has just stopped seizing, what is MOST important?

obtain a description of how the seizure developed Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a patient has altered mental status?

not thinking clearly or is incapable of being aroused Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Brain Structure and Functions

The brain consists of three major parts: cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem.
The brain stem is responsible for vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and swallowing.
Muscle control and body coordination are governed by the cerebellum.
The left cerebral hemisphere controls functions on the right side of the body.
The anterior aspect of the cerebrum regulates emotions.

Neurological Emergencies

The spinal cord exits the skull through the foramen magnum.
Conditions like respiratory failure or cardiopulmonary arrest can affect the entire brain.
Interruption of cerebral blood flow typically occurs due to a blockage, not vasodilation.
An ischemic stroke is caused by blockage in a cerebral artery.
Sudden severe headache with unresponsiveness indicates a ruptured cerebral artery.
Hypertension is the most significant risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke.

Aneurysms and Strokes

An aneurysm is defined as a swelling in a weakened arterial wall.
A sudden, severe headache is a key clinical sign of a ruptured cerebral artery.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) indicates that the body has successfully destroyed a clot in a cerebral artery.

Communication and Seizures

Aphasia refers to the inability to produce or understand speech.
Dysarthria is characterized by slurred or difficult-to-understand speech.
Hypovolemia is unlikely to mimic stroke symptoms.
Generalized seizures lead to severe twitching of all muscles in the body.
Absence seizures are also known as petit mal seizures and involve brief lapses of consciousness.
Simple partial seizures originate in one extremity.

Postictal State and Seizure Management

The mental status after a typical seizure usually improves within 5 to 30 minutes.
The postictal state features confusion and fatigue.
Status epilepticus involves prolonged seizures without regaining consciousness.
Severe hypovolemia is not a common cause of seizures; poisoning can be a metabolic cause.

Medications and Febrile Seizures

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is not used to treat patients with seizure history.
Febrile seizures are generally benign but require evaluation.
In the event of a febrile seizure in a child, transport to the hospital and reassure the caregiver is crucial.

Patient Assessment

When assessing a patient post-seizure, obtaining a description of the seizure's progression is essential.
Patients with altered mental status are not clear in thinking or cannot be easily aroused.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on neurological emergencies with these flashcards from EMT Chapter 15. The quiz covers the major parts of the brain and their functions, helping you understand critical concepts in emergency medical training. Perfect for EMT students preparing for exams.