CanadiEM Frontline Primer

CanadiEM Frontline Primer – Headache

In Medical Concepts by Afsheen MeharLeave a Comment

Can’t Miss Diagnoses

  • Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) – subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Traumatic ICH – Subdural hematoma, Epidural hematoma
  • Increased ICP: Story of Shunt, malignancy, Cushing’s response
  • Meningitis, Encephalitis
  • Status Migrainosis
  • Early COVID-19 may present with headache, myalgias (early viral symptoms)
  • Cerebral Venous sinus thrombosis (CVST)
  • Vascular: Temporal arteritis/Giant-Cell Arteritis, Carotid artery dissection
  • Eye: Acute angle-closure glaucoma
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning

Mnemonic for Dangerous Headaches

BITE ME:
B – Bleed (SDH, EDH, SAH)
I – infection
T – Thrombosis
E – Eye
M – Mass, Migraine (Esp Status Migrainosis)
E – Environmental exposures (CO poisoning)

Non-Emergent but Common Headaches

  • Migraine
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Post-traumatic (concussive)
  • Post-Lumbar Puncture Headache
  • Sinusitis
  • Cluster or Histamine Headaches
  • Dental problems
  • TMJ
  • Tension Headache
  • Cervical Strain
  • Effort-dependent or coital headaches

Points to focus upon

Hx:

History of Trauma, Anticoagulation, Maximal intensity at onset, Fever, immunocompromised.

Px:
  • Full neuro exam and reassess
  • Vitals
  • Check for signs of meningismus, temporal tenderness, Eye exam, signs of raised ICP

Remember to document the presence or absence of red flags and neuro findings.

Investigations

  • CBC, BUN, Cr, Lytes, Glucose
  • Consider INR/PTT (esp if on warfarin or DOACs)

Remember, diagnosis of EXCLUSION for benign causes.

Use CT Rules to guide the choice to get a CT Head if possible.

Clinical Decision Tools

CT Head Rule Summary Graphic from CanadiEM.org

Management

ICH:

Management for ICH would usually involve Neurosurgery and/or admission.
Consider reversal of oral anticoagulation using human prothrombin complex (PCC) in consultation with hematology/thrombosis/Blood bank to your institution.
Specific reversal agents are also available, but consult your hematologists or local protocols for this.

ED Migraine Management:

In addition to acetaminophen and NSAIDs (e.g. Toradol 10mg IV x1), there is some evidence for the use of dopaminergic agents for the resolution of migraines, including but not limited to: metoclopramide (trade name: Maxeran), haloperidol (trade name:Haldol). The side effect to watch out for with both would be akasthesia which can be precipitated by either. [Pro-tip: The antidote for these akasthesias is IV diphenhydramine (i.e. Benedryl).]

Discharge Diagnoses to Educate About:

Migraine, Tension HA, Cluster HA, ENT referred pain

Patient Education Materials

Recommended reading, videos, and podcasts

Also see “CanadiEM Frontline Primer – Trauma – Isolated Head Injury” for similar info.

The following is part of the CanadiEM Frontline Primer. An introduction to the primer can be found here. To return to the Primer content overview click here.

This post was copyedited and uploaded by Evan Formosa.

Afsheen Mehar

Afsheen Mehar

Dr. Afsheen Mehar is a resident physician at the University of Toronto in the RCPSC Emergency Medicine Training Program. Her greatest passions are medical education, POCUS and austere medicine. She holds an RDMS certification in ultrasound.
Teresa Chan

Teresa Chan

Senior Editor at CanadiEM
Emergency Physician. Medical Educator. #FOAMed Supporter, Producer and Researcher. Chief Strategy Officer of CanadiEM. Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, McMaster University.