Central Pontine Myelinolysis
Central pontine myelinolysis is a demyelinating disorder that affects the brainstem white matter, mostly central pons and occasionally cerebral hemispheres (then called ‘extrapontine myelinolysis’)
Month January 2019
Cerebellar disease DDx
Important causes of diseases affecting the cerebellum
Cranial nerve lesions DDx
Differential diagnosis of cranial nerve lesions includes central and peripheral causes. Causes vary according to which cranial nerve is affected, and whether multiple cranial nerves are involved. See also
Dementia DDx
Dementia is a syndrome of acquired intellectual impairment characterized by persistent deficits in at least three of the following areas of mental activity: memory; language; visuospatial skills; personality/emotional state; cognition (abstraction, mathematics, and judgment)
Radiculopathy DDx
A radiculopathy is sensory or motor dysfunction resulting from pathology involving a spinal nerve root. Symptoms include weakness, burning, tingling, and ‘shooting’ pain in a nerve root distribution.
Peripheral neuropathy DDx
Diseases that affect the the peripheral nerves, either motor or sensory. Important subgroups for differential diagnosis are: predominately motor, painful peripheral neuropathies and mononeuritis multiplex
Pressure vs Volume Loop
Pressure vs Volume Loop: graphical representation of relationship between pressure and volume during inspiration and expiration. Spontaneous breaths go clockwise and positive pressure go counter clockwise
Dynamic Pressure-Volume Loops
Dynamic Pressure-Volume Loops: used to estimate work of breathing in terms of expiratory and inspiratory components.
Seizures DDx
Seizures are the manifestation of abnormal hyperexcitable discharges of cortical neurons. 10 minutes of continuous seizure activity is now considered status epilepticus, which may result in neuronal damage. Seizures should be aggressively treated if they last longer than 5 minutes.
Tube securing devices
Tube securing devices: prevent dislodgement of endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening, generalised or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. It is characterised by rapidly developing life-threatening airway (pharyngeal or laryngeal edema) and/or breathing (bronchospasm and tachypnea) and/or circulation (hypotension and tachycardia) problems usually associated with skin and mucosal changes
Basic Life Support
Basic Life Support