2c. Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) / Stroke Flashcards
What is a CVA or stroke?
Cerebrovascular accident = a focal neurological disorder of abrupt development due to the obstruction of an artery > the brain will be deprived from oxygen and nutrients > leading to irreversible brain damage/cell death
Wat does FAST mean?
Face drooping
Arm/leg weakness
Speech difficulty
Time for 112
What 2 types of strokes are there and what are causing them?
- Obstructive/ischemic stroke (iCVA) = caused by a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in the brain
- Hemorrhagic stroke (hCVA) = caused by a rupture of a weakened blood vessel in the brain
What 2 types of blood clots are there and where are they formed?
- Thrombus = blood clot that forms in a healthy artery in the brain
- Embolism = blood clot that forms elsewhere in the body
What are causes of weakened blood vessels (causing hCVA)? (2x explained, 4x extra)
- Hypertension = longtime exposure to high blood pressure (50%)
- Arteriovenous malformation = poorly formed blood vessels
- Brain tumors
- Inflammation
- Coagulation disorders
- Trauma
Ischemia
What is a stenosis?
Due to the process of atherosclerosis a gradual build-up of fat deposits forms. It occurs mostly in the smaller, deeper perforating arteries.
Ischemia
What is an embolism?
A bloodclot that loges a narrowed artery.
Ischemia
What is thrombolysis?
This is injecting a powerful drug into the bloodstream to disperse a bloot clot in a blood vessel. It is performed fast after an infarct.
Reversible conditions after embolism
What is a ‘Transient Ischemic Attack’ (TIA)?
If the neurological deficits dissapear within a short period of time (usually less than 45 min). There is no evidence of infarction on a CT scan.
Reversible conditions after embolism
What is a ‘Cerebral Infarction with Transient Signs’ (CITS)?
Here, the symptoms last longer than 45 min, but compared to a full stroke, less than 24 hours. Here, there is evidence of recent infarction on a CT scan
What is a deep intracerebral hemorrhage?
This type occurs in the area of the basal nuclei, usually as a result of the rupture of smaller arteries caused by the effect of longtime exposure to high blood pressure.
It’s the most common hemorrhage.
What is a lobar intracerebral hemorrhage?
This type we see more in the elderly, and is far more superficial, caused by amyloid angiopathy.
What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)?
This type does occur in the space between the meninges surrounding the brain, mostly caused by a rupture (aneurysm) at or near the circle of Willis.
It causes a sudden and extremely severe headache followed by neck stifness (some patients are traumatized by this)
What is a hemorrhagic infarct?
A combination of infarction and bleeding, associated with a very high mortality rate.
What is an aneurysm?
A weak area in a vessel wall which eventually causes a balloon shaped belch that can rupture.
What is diaschisis?
A disturbance or loss of function in one part of the brain due to a localized injury in another part.
What are the cognitive alterations mainly related to in a hemorrhage?
Cognitive problems are mainly related to the resulting hematoma that leads to intercranial pressure and edema (swelling), so SIZE and SECONDARY effects
When the hematoma has dissapeared, a bit of normal functioning may be restored
What are the cognitive alterations mainly related to in an ischemia?
Impairment is primarily caused by the infarct itself, so here, LOCATION is of major importance. Also, damage to more remote areas is possible and this is the result of “diaschisis” > the connection with the remote area can be broken