Conditions Part 1 Flashcards
defintion for Stroke and TIA
a cerebrovascular event is a clinical syndrome caused by disruption of blood supply to the brain characterised by rapidly developing signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral functions lasting for more than 24 hours ore leading to deaths
A transient ischaemic attack refers to a similar presentation that resolves within 24 hours
how common is stroke or TIA
about 150 00 have a stroke in the UK every year
53 000 deaths each year
further 20 000 have a TIA
who is affected the most by stroke or TIA
uncommon if <40yrs, rates greater in Asian and black africans than white
M>F
causes for stroke
cerebral infraction
- 70%
- arterial thrombus in-situ atheromatous carotid, vertebral or cerebral arteries
- cardiac embolus following AF, valvular disease, prosthetic valves, MI (>30% of stroke)
primary haemorrhage
- 15%
- high BP
- trauma
- aneurysm rupture
subarachnoid haemorrhage
- 5%
- arterious aneurysms
- arterio-venous malformations
Uncertain type
- 5%
causes for TIA
mainly due to
- micro-emboli from heart or atheromatous plaques
- fall in cerebral perfusion due to cardiac dysrhythmia, postural hypotension, dec flow due to atheroma
what are the different stages of stroke
minor stroke - stroke-in-evolution - completed stroke
pathogenesis of stroke
vessel obstruction –> brain ishaemia –> infract –> infracted area surrounded by a swollen area which is structurally intact but does not function (ischaemic penumbra) –> this can regain neurological function
within the ischaemia area –> hypoxia –> fall in ATP –> glutamate release –> Ca2+ channels open –> free radial release –> inflammation and necrosis
RF for stroke and TIA
hypertension, smoking, DM, heart disease (valvular, ischaemia, AF), peripheral vascular disease, polycythaemia vera (too much blood cells), past TIA, cortid bruit, the pill, hyperlipidaemia, alcohol, clotting disorder, syphilis
symptoms of stroke and TIA
either sudden onset or step-wise progression of symptoms
symptoms depends on whether ischaemic/haemorrhagic and which artery affected
cerebral hemisphere infarct -50%
- contralateral hemiplegia (weakness of the body) initially flaccid then spastic
- contralateral sensory loss
- homonymous hemianopia (blindness of half visual field)
- dysphasia
brainstem infarction - 25%
- quadriplegia
- disturbances of gaze/vision
- locked-in syndrome
lacunar infarct - small infarct around the basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalamus, pons - 25%
- pure motor/sensory or mixed signs
- ataxia (lack of voluntary movement)
- intact cognition/consciousness
differential diagnosis for stroke and TIA
CNS tumour subdural haemorrhage drug overdose hemiplegic migraine - hepatic encephalopathy
further investigation for stroke and TIA
Brain CT - often normal in ischaemic stroke for the first few hours
MRI - more accurate thatn CT
echocardiography - if suspected cardiac cause/origin
fundoscopy, bloods, carotid duplex ultrasound, BP, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia
management for stroke and TIA
immediate mangement
- ABCDE
- thrombolysis needed? if yes then imaging
- brain imaging (CT - quick and easy)
- cerebral infarction - CT exclude haemorrhag. give immediate thrombolytic therapy, or 300mg aspirine if contra-indicated
- cerebral haemorrhage - do not give anto-coagulant and neurosurgery
later management
- MR angiography (MRA) or CT angiography - to discover surgical location and confirmation of location of infarct
- carotid dopplet and duplex scanning - carotid occlusion
low dose aspirin as primary prevent if 10-year risk of CHD >10%
treatment for stroke and TIA
RF identify and reduce
anti-hypertensive therapy
anti-platelet therapy (clopidogrel monotherapy)
anticoagulants - heparin and warfarin
surgery - internal carotid endarterectomy if carotid occlusion
definition for sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
bleeding into the subarachnoid space
how common is subarachnoid haemorrhage
constitutes about 6% of first stroke
causes for subarachnoid haemorrhage
intracranial arterial aneurysms - berry anerurysms
non-aneurysmal peri-mesencephalic haemorrhage
other vascular abnor - arteriovenous malformation
RF for subarachnoid haemorrhage
larger aneurysm - more likely to ruputre
hypertension
smoking
excessive alcohol intake
FH
genetic
adult polycystic kidney disease (around 10% have berry aneurysm)
symptoms of subarachnoid haemorrhage
sudden, severe, typically occipital headache lasting few seconds - ‘thought I had been kicked at the back of my head’ thunder clap headache ?
vomiting
collapse
seizures
coma/drowsiness
neck stiffness - due to meningeal irritation by blood
complete/partial palsy of oculomotor nerve
marked rise in BP
sentinel headache - resolve with no other symptoms - due to ‘warning leak’ from aneurysm
differential for subarachnoid headache
other causes of stroke
meningitis
trauma
idiopathic thunderclap headche
further investigations for subarachnoid haemorrhage
CT - detect 90% of SAH within first 48 hrs
lumbar puncture - if CT -ve, CSF is uniformly bloody early on and turn yeloow later on as blood is broken down into bilirubin like piss
management for SAH
refer all SAH to neurology team asap
re-exam CNS often to see any further development of the haemorrhage
repeat CT if deteriorating
nimodipine - Ca2+ antagonist which reduce vasospasm and consequent mobility from cerebral ischaemia
endovascular coiling
prognosis for SAH
up to 60% die within first 30 days, 10% die immediately with no symptoms
definition for peripheral neuropathy
damage or disease affecting the peripheral nerves which can be a mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy or mononeuritis multiplex (several separate mononeuropathies) and can be acute or chronic
what is mononeuropathy
a process affecting a single nerve (including CN)