An adult son brings his elderly father to the emergency department.He reports that his father began slurring his speech.Within an hour of arriving to the emergency department, his symptoms resolve and his speech is now clear.What is most likely the cause of his symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of slurred speech that resolve within an hour suggest a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. TPA (A) is a medication used to treat strokes caused by blood clots, and would not be appropriate in this situation. AVM (B) is an arteriovenous malformation, which is a congenital disorder involving abnormal connections between arteries and veins in the brain. This condition is not typically associated with temporary slurred speech. CVA (C) is a cerebrovascular accident, which is another term for a stroke. Since the symptoms resolved within an hour, a stroke is less likely. CP (E) refers to cerebral palsy, which is a neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination, and is not related to the temporary slurred speech described.

An Adult Son Brings His Elderly Father to the Emergency