Chapter 17 Neurological Emergencies
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What side of the brain is speech generally controlled in? - CORRECT ANSWER - Left
side
What is coma? - CORRECT ANSWER - A state of profound unconsciousness from which
the patient cannot be roused
What is a cerebrovascular accident? - CORRECT ANSWER - - stroke
- interruption of blood flow to an area within the brain that results in the loss of brain function.
When brain cells die or are injured, severe disability may result
What is ischemic stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - - most common type of stroke (80% of
all strokes)
- blood flow to a particular part of the brain is stopped by a blockage inside a blood vessel
What is hemorrhagic stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - - 13% of all strokes
- blood vessel ruptures and the accumulated blood then forms a blood clot, which compresses the
brain tissue next to it
What are signs and symptoms of stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - Facial drooping
Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or one side of the body
Decreased or absent movement and sensation on one side of the body
Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia) or loss of balance
Sudden vision loss in one eye; blurred or double vision
Difficulty swallowing (a primary reason for good airway management in a patient with a stroke)
Decreased level of responsiveness
,Speech disorders
Aphasia
Slurred speech (dysarthria)
Sudden and severe headache
Confusion
Dizziness
Weakness
Combativeness
Restlessness
Tongue deviation
Coma
What is aphasia? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Difficulty expressing thoughts or inability to
use the right words (expressive aphasia)
- Difficulty understanding spoken words (receptive aphasia)
What are the signs and symptoms of left vs. right hemisphere stroke? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Left Hemisphere
- speed disorder
- right side paralysis
Right Hemisphere
- words slurred or hard to understand
- left side paralysis
- neglect (ignore left parts of the body)
________ affect(s) the entire brain, often causing anxiety, restlessness, and confusion.
- Poor blood supply to one side of the brain
- Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream
, - Very low blood glucose levels
- Aneurysms - CORRECT ANSWER - ________ affect(s) the entire brain, often causing
anxiety, restlessness, and confusion.
- Poor blood supply to one side of the brain
*- Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream*
- Very low blood glucose levels
- Aneurysms
What is generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure? - CORRECT ANSWER - - seizure that features
rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness, or extreme twitching of all of
the body's muscles, that may last several minutes or more; formerly known as a grand mal
seizure.
What medications are used to treat seizures? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Levetiracetam
(Keppra)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Phenobarbital
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Valproate (Depakote)
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
When you are assessing for a stroke, which of the following neurologic tests should be included
in the assessment as a minimum?
- Speech
- Facial movement
- Arm movement
- Balance - CORRECT ANSWER - When you are assessing for a stroke, which of the
following neurologic tests should be included in the assessment as a minimum?
*- Speech*
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What side of the brain is speech generally controlled in? - CORRECT ANSWER - Left
side
What is coma? - CORRECT ANSWER - A state of profound unconsciousness from which
the patient cannot be roused
What is a cerebrovascular accident? - CORRECT ANSWER - - stroke
- interruption of blood flow to an area within the brain that results in the loss of brain function.
When brain cells die or are injured, severe disability may result
What is ischemic stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - - most common type of stroke (80% of
all strokes)
- blood flow to a particular part of the brain is stopped by a blockage inside a blood vessel
What is hemorrhagic stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - - 13% of all strokes
- blood vessel ruptures and the accumulated blood then forms a blood clot, which compresses the
brain tissue next to it
What are signs and symptoms of stroke? - CORRECT ANSWER - Facial drooping
Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or one side of the body
Decreased or absent movement and sensation on one side of the body
Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia) or loss of balance
Sudden vision loss in one eye; blurred or double vision
Difficulty swallowing (a primary reason for good airway management in a patient with a stroke)
Decreased level of responsiveness
,Speech disorders
Aphasia
Slurred speech (dysarthria)
Sudden and severe headache
Confusion
Dizziness
Weakness
Combativeness
Restlessness
Tongue deviation
Coma
What is aphasia? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Difficulty expressing thoughts or inability to
use the right words (expressive aphasia)
- Difficulty understanding spoken words (receptive aphasia)
What are the signs and symptoms of left vs. right hemisphere stroke? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Left Hemisphere
- speed disorder
- right side paralysis
Right Hemisphere
- words slurred or hard to understand
- left side paralysis
- neglect (ignore left parts of the body)
________ affect(s) the entire brain, often causing anxiety, restlessness, and confusion.
- Poor blood supply to one side of the brain
- Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream
, - Very low blood glucose levels
- Aneurysms - CORRECT ANSWER - ________ affect(s) the entire brain, often causing
anxiety, restlessness, and confusion.
- Poor blood supply to one side of the brain
*- Low oxygen levels in the bloodstream*
- Very low blood glucose levels
- Aneurysms
What is generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure? - CORRECT ANSWER - - seizure that features
rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness, or extreme twitching of all of
the body's muscles, that may last several minutes or more; formerly known as a grand mal
seizure.
What medications are used to treat seizures? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Levetiracetam
(Keppra)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Phenobarbital
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Valproate (Depakote)
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
When you are assessing for a stroke, which of the following neurologic tests should be included
in the assessment as a minimum?
- Speech
- Facial movement
- Arm movement
- Balance - CORRECT ANSWER - When you are assessing for a stroke, which of the
following neurologic tests should be included in the assessment as a minimum?
*- Speech*
