PV card: Bell’s Palsy Treatment

Bell’s Palsy is an idiopathic unilateral facial nerve paralysis.

Since the 2009 Cochrane review¹ showing that antivirals added no benefit to corticosteroids in Bell’s Palsy, I stopped prescribing them. The NNT.com site has concluded the same. Looking at the literature a little more, the recommendations are a little murkier. Some groups are still advocating for antivirals for severe cases, because there may be a very small but questionably positive benefit.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-02-19T18:20:53-08:00Feb 21, 2013|ALiEM Cards, Neurology|

P-video: How to remember the GCS scoring

In this inaugural P-video, Dr. Jeremy Faust gives us a quick way to remember how keep the maximum subscores of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) straight. There’s verbal, motor, and eyes. Which has a max score of 4, 5, and 6?

By Jeremy Faust, MD|2016-10-26T17:05:06-07:00Jan 2, 2013|Neurology, P-videos|

MIA 2012: Backes D, et al. Time-dependent test characteristics of head computed tomography in patients suspected of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2012 Aug;43(8):2115-9

Bottom Line ¹

100% sensitive and specific if < 6 hours from headache onset
90% sensitive if after 6 hours

A noncontrast head CT can effectively rule out atraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in patients who present with acute headache within six hours after ictus. Those who present outside this time window or present atypically for SAH (ie neck pain) require further workup, including a lumbar puncture.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T18:42:23-08:00Jan 1, 2013|Neurology, Radiology|

MIA 2012: IST-3 collaborative group et al. The benefits and harms of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 6 h of acute ischaemic stroke (the third international stroke trial [IST-3]): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012 Jun 23;379(9834):2352-63.

Bottom Line ¹

Giving tPA to stroke patients within 6 hrs of symptom onset does not improve mortality or independence at 6 months. However, patients might be a little “less disabled” while they are alive. Maybe.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T18:42:29-08:00Jan 1, 2013|Neurology|

Paucis Verbis: Acute vestibular syndrome and HINTS exam

What is your diagnostic approach to the acutely vertiginous patient?

The bottom-line question is: Is the cause peripheral or central in etiology?

In this great 2011 systematic review article in CMAJ on Acute Vestibular Syndrome (AVS), the authors review how (un)predictive elements of the history and physical exam are. By definition of AVS, symptoms must be continuous for at least 24 hours and have no focal neurologic deficits.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2017-08-01T19:18:37-07:00Dec 2, 2011|ALiEM Cards, Neurology|

Trick of the Trade: Epley maneuver

You diagnose a patient with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) based on the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. This is caused by otoliths and debris in the posterior semicircular canal. Now what? The patient still feels miserably nauseous and vertiginous.

Is your first-line treatment meclizine or benzodiazepines?

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T22:37:25-08:00Sep 6, 2011|Neurology, Tricks of the Trade|

Trick of the Trade: Dix-Hallpike maneuver variation

The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is used to help diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Place the gurney’s head of the bed down flat.
Reposition the patient so that s/he is sitting another 12 inches or so closer towards the head of the flat gurney.
Rotate patient’s head 45 degrees.
Help the patient lie down backwards quickly.
The patient’s head should be hanging off of the gurney edge in about 20 degrees extension.
Observe for rotational nystagmus after a 5-10 second latency period, which confirms BPPV.

I find 2 things challenging in this maneuver.

The patient often does not like to be moved AT ALL while feeling nauseously vertiginous. This even includes trying to reposition the seated patient closer to the head of the bed. This requires them to look behind them to see what where they are going, which sets off more vertigo.
In some of our ED rooms and hallways, the head of the gurney bed is often abutting a wall, a portable monitor, or some equipment. It takes a little fancy shuffling to make room for the Dix-Hallpike maneuver.

Trick of the Trade: A modified Dix-Hallpike maneuver

Place blankets or a pillow under the shoulders for the Dix-Hallpike maneuver.

The key is to maintain about 20-30 degrees of neck extension to align the posterior semicircular canals with the direction of gravity. Placing several blankets under the patients’ shoulders can accomplish this same position without having to scoot the patient close to the gurney edge. I’m sure the patient would appreciate keeping their head movement to a minimum.

By Michelle Lin, MD|2020-01-07T23:52:15-08:00Aug 30, 2011|ENT, Neurology, Tricks of the Trade|