Cerebrovascular Disease Flashcards

1
Q

Risk factors for stroke

A

Similar to those for CAD (HTN, DM, smoking, dyslipidemia)

Men higher incidence at younger ages and higher for women by age 75

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2
Q

What causes a CVA?

A

Acute neurologic injury occurring due to hemorrhage or ischemia

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3
Q

Causes of ischemic stroke

A

Thrombosis (in situ obstruction of artery)
Embolism (a fib sends from somewhere else in body)
Hypoperfusion (circulatory problem)

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4
Q

Presentation of ischemic stroke due to hypoperfusion

A

Pts have evidence of circulatory compromise with hypotension and may have pallor, sweating, tachycardia/bradycardia, kidney dysfunction
Neuro signs are usually more bilateral (more uniform sxs)–sxs of brain dysfunction more diffuse and nonfocal

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5
Q

What are watershed infarcts?

A

Susceptible to strokes and ischemia secondary to low flow states from vessel overlap or systemic hypotension (some arteries will do a little perfusion into an area that another artery usually does)

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6
Q

What can cause a hemorrhagic stroke?

A
Intracerebral hemorrhage (parenchymal)- bleeding directly into tissue (more common type here)
Subarachnoid hemorrhage-bleeding into CSF
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7
Q

Most common type of CVA

A

Ischemic!!

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8
Q

Why do you need to differentiate ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke?

A

For tx!! (do by a CT)

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9
Q

How is ischemia shown on CT?

A

Hypodense (darker) area of brain tissue

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10
Q

How to divide stroke syndromes

A

Large vessel: within anterior or posterior circulation

Small vessel: disease of either vascular bed (lacunar stroke)

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11
Q

Stroke syndrome due to large vessel in anterior circulation

A

(carotid artery supply)
Extracranial and intracranial carotid arteries, middle and anterior cerebral artery branches (middle/anterior cerebral artery, anterior communicating)

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12
Q

Stroke syndrome due to large vessel in posterior circulation

A

(vertebrobasilar system)

Extracranial and intracranial vertebral arteries, basilar artery and posterior cerebral arteries

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13
Q

CVA most commonly due to which artery

A

Middle cerebral artery

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14
Q

What does a stroke in middle cerebral artery affect?

A

Frontal, temporal and parietal lobes

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15
Q

Presentation of stroke syndrome due to middle cerebral artery (anterior)

A

Contralateral hemiplegia/hemianesthesia (weakness/numbess) variably affecting FACE and ARM greater than leg
Can see contralateral homonymous hemianopia and a day or two of gaze preference to ipsilateral side can be seen

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16
Q

Different presentations of stroke due to middle cerebral artery for dominant or nondominant hemisphere

A

Dominant: global aphasia (trouble talking)

Non dominant: hemineglect (half of world means nothing)

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17
Q

Presentation of stroke due to anterior cerebral artery

A

(frontal pole/lobe)
Contralateral hemiplegia/hemianesthesia (weakness/numbess) in the LEG greater than the arm
May have profound abulia (delay in verbal and motor response) or perseverating speech

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18
Q

Presentation of stroke due to anterior communicating artery

A

Impingement of cranial nerves so visual field deficits

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19
Q

Presentation of stroke due to posterior cerebral artery

A

(occipital cortex)
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Light touch and pinprick sensation may be reduced
-stroke may go unnoticed by pt b/c motor involvement is usually minimal unless large infarct

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20
Q

What presentation is seen with stroke due to posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)?

A

Wallenbergs syndrome (lateral medullary syndrome)

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21
Q

What is Wallenbergs syndrome?

A

Ipsilateral loss of facial pain and temp sensation with contralateral loss of these senses over body
VERTIGO, VOMITING, nystagmus, ipsilateral ataxia, hoarseness, dysarthria, dysphasia, hiccups, ipsilateral Horners syndrome
(PICA)

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22
Q

What is Horners syndrome?

A

Typically incomplete ptosis and miosis without anhidrosis

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23
Q

Presentation of stroke due to basilar artery

A

Complete occlusion affects pons and produces LOCKED IN SYNDROME

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24
Q

What is the locked in syndrome?

A

Quadriplegia and facial/mouth/tongue weakness
Preserved consciousness (reticular formation spared)
Preservation of vertical eye movements and blinking
(basilar)

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25
Q

What is a lacunar stroke?

A

Occlusion of one of small, penetrating branches of circle of willis, middle cerebral artery stem or vertebral and basilar arteries
Thrombosis causes small infarcts called lacunes

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26
Q

What is a lacunar stroke associated with?

A

Chronic untreated HTN

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27
Q

Initial assessment for all kinds of strokes

A

Airway
Breathing
Circulation

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28
Q

What to remember with stroke pts and airway

A

They can have increased ICP which can lead to a decreased respiratory drive (may need to intubate, also if don’t have good level of consciousness)

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29
Q

What tends to be elevated in pt with acute stroke?

A

Mean arterial pressure (maybe due to HTN which is risk factor for stroke)
*appropriate response to maintain brain perfusion

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30
Q

BP control for ischemic stroke

A

DO NOT START treating BP unless greater than 220/120 (b/c risk of further ischemia)

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31
Q

BP for hemorrhagic stroke

A

Keep the BP <160/90 to prevent increases in bleeding (but don’t want it below 140 to prevent ischemia in other places)

32
Q

Most important history question for stroke

A

When did the sxs start??

33
Q

First diagnostic test to assess for stroke

A

Noncontrast CT of brain

34
Q

What test is more sensitive for ischemia earlier on in CVA but not widely available?

A

Stat diffusion weighted MRI

35
Q

Other diagnostics done for CVA

A
Electrocardiogram
CBC with platelets
Serum glucose
PT and INR
PTT
Cardiac enzymes (troponin)
Lytes, BUN, Cr
36
Q

CT scan and hemorrhagic stroke

A

Diagnose of this is largely based on results of CT (shows blood in area suffering stroke)

37
Q

CT scan and ischemic stroke

A

May be normal (b/c take a certain length of time to be evident on CT)

38
Q

When might the diagnosis of stroke have to be clinical b/c CT results come up normal?

A

Sxs present <6 hrs
Affected area is small
Located in area of brain not well seen on CT (posterior fossa)
AND CVA secondary to ischemia (then normal)

39
Q

General rule for management of all pts with acute CVA

A

They are critical so need ABCs and admit to ICU

40
Q

Early tx for acute ischemic stroke

A

Initiate ASA within 48 hrs (maybe dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and ASA for pt with high risk TIA or minor stroke)

41
Q

What to do if brain CT shows no bleed!!!

A

Full dose aspirin within 48 hrs (rectally if pt has dysphasia)
-ASA reduces risk of early recurrent ischemic stroke

42
Q

Choices for secondary stroke prevention

A

ASA, clopidogrel (Plavix) and combo of ASA extended release dipyridamole

43
Q

Best way to save ischemic brain tissue not already infarcted

A

Timely restoration of blood flow with thrombolytics (but don’t want to create a hemorrhagic stroke!!!)

44
Q

When can you not do tPA (thrombolytic)?

A

Not recommended beyond 4.5 hrs of sxs

45
Q

BP therapy if giving thrombolytics

A

Systolic <185 and diastolic <110

46
Q

Timeline for initiating thrombolytic therapy

A
Eval- 10 min
Stroke or neuro expertise contacted-15 min
CT/MRI- 25 min
Interpret scan- 45 min
Start IV tPA-60 min
47
Q

General rule to consider tPA

A

CT scan must be normal (if shows ischemia then it has been going on too long to consider tPA safe)

48
Q

Intra arterial thrombolysis for CVA

A

Catheter directed tPA (smaller dose than peripheral IV but not proven beneficial)

49
Q

Mechanical thrombectomy for CVA

A

Endovascular tx with stent retriever for pts with intracranial large artery occlusion in proximal anterior circulation (if can be treated within 6 hrs of sx onset)

50
Q

Therapy for hemorrhagic stroke

A

D/c all anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (reverse effects immediately)

51
Q

How to lower ICP that is seen with hemorrhagic stroke

A

Elevate heard of bed to 30 degrees and use analgesia and sedation
Osmotic diuretics, drainage of CSF (bolt), neuromuscular blockade and hyper ventilation (short term)

52
Q

When is it needed to do surgical consult to immediately remove the hemorrhage

A

Cerebellar hemorrhage >3 cm

Pts deteriorating or have brainstem compression and/or hydrocephalus due to ventricular obstruction

53
Q

Secondary prevention of ischemic stroke

A

Antiplatelet meds, warfarin (afib or prosthetic heart valve)

54
Q

Secondary prevention for either type of CVA

A

Tx of underlying conditions (DM, HTN, HLD)

Stop smoking, alcohol, drugs

55
Q

What is a TIA?

A

Transient episode of neuro dysfunction caused by focal, brain, spinal cord or retinal ischemia
WITHOUT ACUTE INFARCTION (but even short periods of time can cause permanent brain injury)
(used to be <24 hrs but they are mostly <60 min)

56
Q

Why is a TIA important?

A

Stroke risk within first 2 days in higher and even higher in next 5 yrs

57
Q

Stroke prevention after TIA

A
EKG (tx of afib)
Carotid u/s (maybe carotid endarterectomy)
Lipid lowering med
AntiHTN med
Diet/lifestyle
Start daily ASA therapy
58
Q

What to do if pt is on ASA and has meds for risk factors but still has a TIA?

A

Maybe add clopidogrel or aspirin extended release dipyrimadole

59
Q

High risk factors with presentation of HA

A

New HA
Severe
Sudden
AMS

60
Q

What is needed with pt with HA and high risk features

A

Noncontrast brain CT

61
Q

What to do if CT is normal but pt has severe HA

A

LP

62
Q

HA with SAH

A

Sudden and thunderclap (worst headache of life)

63
Q

Most common cause of SAH

A

Ruptured saccular aneurysm or trauma (many ppl have them and they don’t rupture)

64
Q

Who do you see SAH in?

A

40-60 YO

Slightly higher risk of aneurysmal SAH in women

65
Q

Risk factors of SAH

A

Aneurysms in other vessels, connective tissue disorder, HTN/HLD, DM, CVD, obese, polycystic kidney disease, smoking/alcohol, family hx

66
Q

Common complications of SAH

A

Vasospasm (b/c of spasmogenic substances during lysis of subarachnoid blood clots)
Rebleeding (within first day usually)

67
Q

When do you see vasospasm vs rebleeding?

A

Rebleeding is early

Vasospasm is no earlier than day 3 and peaks at day 7

68
Q

What will show blood in subarachnoid space in performed within 24 hrs of bleed?

A

Noncontrast CT scan of brain

69
Q

How to diagnose SAH in pt with suspected one but negative CT

A

LP! (look for bleeding b/c normal CSF has no RBCs or WBCs)

70
Q

How to tell difference between traumatic tap and SAH?

A

Traumatic-RBC numbers tend to decrease from 1st to 4th tube (stay same if SAH)

71
Q

Most sensitive indicator of SAH on LP

A

Xanthochromia (pink or yellow tint to CSF due to hemoglobin degradation products)

72
Q

Management of SAH

A

Admit to ICU
Analgesia to diminish hemodynamic fluctuations and help prevent re bleeding
Control ICP
Serial transcranial doppler u/s to monitor for vasospasm
Stop blood thinners, seizure prophylaxis

73
Q

How to prevent vasospasm

A

IV fluids and nimodipine (oral or NG tube within 4 days) (for about 2 wks-21 days)

74
Q

Mainstay of therapy for SAH

A

Surgery of aneurysms (clipping)
Endovascular (coiling) becoming more widely used
Prevent re bleeding and stop another aneurysm from rupturing later

75
Q

Traumatic SAH?

A

Consequences generally not as bad as with spontaneous