Chapter 9 Flashcards
What is a CVA?
Cerebrovascular accident (or stroke) is an abnormal condition of the brain characterized by occlusion, or hemorrhage of a blood vessel, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the brain tissues that normally receive their blood supply from the damaged vessels.
What is the consequence of CVA?
Results in loss of proper oxygenation to the brain cells and eventually cell death
True or False
Recently there has been a move to use the term brain attack instead of store so that the public will become as familiar with CVA’s signs and symptoms are they are with a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
True
True or False
CVA’s are the second leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 4.6 million individuals suffering from the condition annually.
True
True or False
CVA is more often encountered by individuals over 65 years of age, and African Americans seem to be more susceptible than Caucasians.
True (These two groups are more likely to suffer from CVAs as they tend to have a higher incidence of hypertension
What is the major cause of CVA?
Atherosclerosis, these atherosclerotic plaques ont he blood vessel walls tend to form thrombi (a blockage composed of various substances, such as platelets, fibrin, and cellular elements at the point of origin)
What is another group of individuals who are susceptible to cerebrovascular accidents?
Those suffering from atrial fibrillation, which is a disease that affects approximately 2 million americans. When a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation, the two atria of the heart quiver instead of beating properly.
What are the two types of CVA?
Ischemic
Hemorrhagic
What is ischemic (occlusive) CVA?
Some form of a blockage in a cerebral blood vessel
What is a thrombus?
Originates somewhere in the body and then circulates to another area where it becomes lodged in a blood vessel.
What is an embolus?
Foreign object, quantity of air or gas
True or False
The ischemic CVA occurs in 85% of patients, with 60% being thrombotic and 40% embolic.
True
What is hemorrhagic CVA?
Result of a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain
What is an aneurysm?
Weakening of ballooning of a blood vessel, with added pressure, the blood vessel ruptures and causes the stroke.
What are the two types of hemorrhagic stroke?
Intracerebral and subarachnoid.
True or False
Intracerebral strokes are twice as common as subarachnoid hemorrhagic strokes.
True
When do cerebral hemorrhages occur?
Defective artery within the brain bursts and the surrounding tissue fills with blood
When does subarachnoid hemorrhage occur?
Blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the subarachnoid space.
True or False
Hemorrhagic stroke has a higher mortality rate than occlusive stroke.
True
What is the major difference between the signs and symptoms of embolic and thrombotic strokes?
Their onset. Embolic strokes tend to have abrupt onset, whereas the onset of thrombotic strokes is often difficult to determine as the symptoms are often not as severe.
What are the signs and symptoms of both types of ischemic CVA?
Altered level of consciousness (from yawning to coma)
Sudden confusion
Pupils may be unequal and dilated, confusion and dizziness may be apparent
Ataxia (notable change in balance or coordination)
Vision changes (double vision, blind spots)
Hemianopia (loss of vision in half of the visual field in one or both eyes)
Speech changes (poorly articulated speech [dysarthria], to impairment of speech [dysphasia], to the inability to understand spoken words, to inability to speak at all [aphasia])
Difficulty swallowing
Deviation of the tongue
Drooling
Weakness, numbness, tingling in the face (hemiparesis - usually on one side of body)
Nausea
Vomiting
Sudden severe headache
What are the signs and symptoms of hemorrhagic CVA?
Abrupt and rapid Severe headache Acute headache occurring in occipital region High blood pressure Neck pain and stiffness Inability to stand or walk Nausea Vomiting Altered level of consciousness
What are the CPSS tests administered to a patient believed to have been suffering from a CVA?
Smile to look for weakness on one side of face
Hold both arms out with palm up and eyes closed for 10 seconds
Asked to repeat a simple sentence “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
What is the primary goal in CVA treatment?
Minimize the cognitive and physical limitations associated with the cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage.
True or False
The time of onset of CVA symptoms should be clearly established
True
True or False
A patient experiencing CVA should be positioned semi-supinely
True
