CVA Flashcards
Risk factors and early warning signs
- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- sudden severe HA with no known cause
- sudden trouble seeing with one or both eyes
- sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- possible urge to throw up
Ischemic CVA vs hemorrhagic CVA
- ischemic CVA: a thrombus or embolus blocks blood flow to part of the brain
- hemorrhagic CVA: blood spills out from break in blood vessel in the brain
what does the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave of the EKG combined represent?
- The P wave, QRS complex, and T wave represent contractions of the heart
- The P wave represents activity in the hearts upper chambers, while the QRS complex and T wave represent activity in the lower chambers
MRI vs CT scan for detection of CVA
CT:
•demonstrates poor sensitivity for detecting small infarcts and infarction in the posterior fossa
•sometimes during acute phase CT scans are negative
•acute bleeding/hemorrhaging are visible on CT scans
•CT scan can delineate cerebral edema within 3 days
•cerebral infarction is visible within 3 to 5 days with the addition of contrast material
MRI:
• more sensitive in the diagnosis of acute strokes
•allows detection of cerebral ischemia as early as 30 minutes after vascular occlusion and infarction within 2-6 hours
•details the extent of the infarction or hemorrhage
•can detect smaller lesions than CT scans
Middle cerebral artery deficits
•contralateral hemiparesis UE and face affected > LE
•contralateral hemisensory loss UE and face > LE
•Broca’s/motor/expressive/nonfluent aphasia
•Wernike’s/sensory/receptive/fluent aphasia
•global aphasia
•perceptial defecits: unilateral neglect, depth perception, spatial relations, agnosia (inability to interpret sensations) (R) CVA
•contralateral homonymous hemianopsia
• apraxia (neurological disorder characterized by loss of the ability to execute or carry out skilled movements and gestures)
*MOST COMMON site of occlusion in stroke- affects LATERAL frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes; subcortical structures- internal capsule, and portions of the basal ganglia
Anterior Cerebral artery deficits
- contralateral hemiparesis, LE affected > UE and face
- urinary incontinence
- apraxia- problems with imitation and bimanual tasks
- abulia (akinetic mutism)- slowness, delay/lack of spontaneity, motor inaction
- supplies the MEDIAL aspect of the frontal and parietal lobes, subcortical structures- internal capsule, portions of the basal ganglia and most of the corpus collosum
Apraxia
neurological disorder characterized by loss of the ability to execute or carry out skilled movements and gestures
abulia (akinetic mutism)
slowness, delay/lack of spontaneity, motor inaction
Posterior cerebral artery deficits
•central post stroke thalamic pain syndrome
•involuntary movements- choreoathetosis
•Weber’s syndrome- occulomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiplegia
•contralateral homonymous hemianopsia
visual agnosia (inability to process visual sensory info)
•prosopagnosia- difficulty naming people on sight
•dyslexia
•memory defect
•topographic (the arrangement of an area) disorientation
•blindness
•supplies occipital lobes, medial and inferior temporal lobes, upper brainstem, midbrain, posterior diencephalon, and thalamus
Vertebro/basilar artery deficits
- vertebral artery supplies the medulla and cerebellum
- Basilar artery supplies the pons, internal ear and cerebellum
•occlusions to the vertebrobasilar system can produce a wide variety of symptoms both ipsilateral and contralateral signs, because some of the tracts in the brainstem will have crossed and others have not
•numerous cerebellar and cranial nerve abnormalities also are present
•locked in syndrome occurs with basilar artery thrombosis with sudden onset, patient’s progress from acute hemiparesis to tetraplegia, paralysis of CN V-XII. Dysarthric mutism (pt has trouble controlling the muscles that produce words). Preserved consciousness and sensation. Cannot move or speak but remains alert and oriented, horizontal eye movement is impaired but horizontal eye movement and blinking remains intact
Dysarthric
occurs when the muscles you use for speech are weak or you have difficulty controlling them. Dysarthria often causes slurred or slow speech that can be difficult to understand
prosopagnosia
difficulty naming people on sight
•PCA
choreoathetosis
involuntary twitching or writhing
•PCA
Weber’s syndrome-
occulomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiplegia
•PCA
Medical management of CVA
- reestablish circulation and oxygenation via O2. Pt in coma may need ventilation and suctioning
- maintain adequate BP. Hypotension and hypertension is treated
- maintain sufficient cardiac output. Control arrhythmias and cardiac de-compensation
- restore/maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
- maintain blood glucose levels within normal range
- control seizures and infections
- control edema, ICP, and herniation using antiedema agents
- maintain bowel and bladder functions- may require cath
- maintain skin and joint integrity
- decrease risk of DVT, aspiration, decubitis ulcers
Pharmacological management of CVA
- Thrombolytics
- Anticoagulants
- Antiplatelet therapy
- Antihypertensive agents
- Angiotensin II receptor agonists
- Anticholesterol agents/Statins
- Antispasmodics/spasmolytics
- Antispastics
- Anticonvulsants
- Antidepresants
Thrombolytics
Meds: Activase or tPA
Function: dissolves clots and reestablishes blood flow- also used for CVT, PE, and coronary arteries
AE: bleeding and brain hemorrhage
Anticoagulants
Meds: Warfarin/Coumadin, Heparin, Pradaxa
Function: used to reduce the risk of blood clots, prevent existing clots from getting bigger by thinning the blood.
AE: bleeding, hemorrhage, hematomas
Antiplatelet therapy
Meds: Plavix
Function: decrease risk of thrombosis and recurrent stroke. May be recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation.
AE: gastric ulcers and bleeding
Antihypertensive agents
Meds: ACE inhibitors, alpha/beta/calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, diuretics
Function: control hypertension
AE: hypotension, dizziness
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
Meds: Micardia, Cozaar
Function: enlarges blood vessels and reduces BP.
AE: hypotension and dizziness
Anticholesterol agents/ Statins
Meds: Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Simvastatin
Function: lowers cholesterol for management of hyperchoesterolemia
AE: dizziness, weakness, headache, insomnia
Antispasmodics/spasmolytics
Meds: Soma, Parafon, Forte, Flexeril, Diazepam/Valium, Robaxin, Norflex/Norgesics
Function: relax skeletal muscle and decreases muscle spasm
AE: drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth
Antispastics
Meds: Baclofen/Lioresal, Dantrolene sodium/dantrium, Diazepam/Valium, Zanaflex
Function: relax skeletal muscle and decreases muscle spasm
AE: drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, weakness
Anticonvulsants
Meds: Tegretol, Klonopin, Valium, Phenobarbitol/Luminal, Dilantin
Function: controls seizures, acts as a generalized CNS depressant
AE: drowsiness, ataxia, sedation
Antidepressants
Meds: Prozac, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, Zoloft, tricyclic/Amitriptyline
Function: controls depression
AE: tremor, anxiety, insomnia, nausea
TIA vs CVA
TIA
•trans ischemic attacks or mini-strokes result when a cerebral is temporarily, but not completely, blocked, decreasing blood flow to the brain. Problems with function are temporary.
CVA
Many strokes result from a complete blockage of a cerebral artery, leading to death of brain cells and permanent loss of certain functions
Glasgow coma scale
- Consciousness: state of arousal and awareness of one’s environment
- Lethargy: diminished level of arousal. Appears drowsy but when questioned can open eyes and respond briefly. Easily falls asleep if not continuously stimulated.
- Obtunded: diminished arousal and awareness. Difficult to arouse from sleeping, once aroused- appears confused. Responds slowly and shows little interest in or awareness of environment, attempts at interaction are generally unproductive.
- Stupor (semi-coma): can be aroused only with vigorous and unpleasant stimuli. Mass movement responses may be observed in response to painful stimuli or loud noises
- Coma: unconscious and cannot be aroused. Eyes remain closed- no sleep wake cycles
Normal and abnormal states of consciousness: alert
Completely awake, attentive to normal levels of stimulation, able to interact meaningfully with clinician
Lethargic or somnolent
arousal with stimuli, falls asleep when not stimulated, decreased awareness, loss of train of thought
Obtunded
difficult to arouse, requires constant stimulation to maintain consciousness, confused when awake, interactions with therapist may be largely unproductive
Stupor (semi-coma)
arousal only with strong, generally noxious stimuli and returns to unconscious state when stimulation is stopped, patient is unable to interact with clinician. Mass movement responses may be observed in response to painful stimuli or loud noise.
Coma (deep coma)
unarousable to any type of stimulus, reflex motor responses may or may not be seen. Eyes remain closed.
Delirium
state of disorientation marked by irritability or agitation, paranoia, and hallucinations, patient demonstrates offensive, loud and talkative behaviors
Dementia
Alteration in mental processes secondary to organic disease that is not accompanied by a change in arousal
Right CVA vs Left CVA
Right: •paralyzed left side • spatial perceptual deficits •quick and impulsive behavioral style •tends to minimize problems •short attention span •visual field deficits •impaired judgement •memory deficits
Left: •paralyzed right side •speech-language deficits • slow, cautious behavior style •visual field deficits •aware of deficits, may be depressed or anxious •memory deficits
Pusher syndrome
Ipsilateral pushing: 10% of patients with acute CVA
•patients sit or stand asymmetrically with most of weight shifted to WEAK hemiparetic side
•efforts to passively correct results in patient pushing more forcefully
•training needs to emphasize upright positions with active movement shifts towards the stronger side
•clinician may sit on patient’s uninvolved side and instruct them to “lean towards me”
•if visuospatial deficits are not present patient can look in mirror and be asked if their posture is upright - ask “what direction are you tilted” “where do you need to move”
•patient can be positioned with uninvolved side to wall and have them lean onto the wall
•if cane is used it can be shortened to encourage weight shift to stronger side
•an environmental boundary such as a doorway or corner may be used to achieve symmetrical standing
Homonymous hemianopsia
- same side as the hemiplegia
- need to scan environment prior to moving and affected extremity position because they are at increased risk of self-injury and unilateral neglect
Anticoagulants, thrombolytics, anti-platelets AE
AE: bleeding, hemorrhaging, bruising, hematomas
Anticholesterols (statins), anti-hypertensives, anti-spastics AE
AE: Dizziness
anti-convulsants, anti-spastic, antispasmodics AE
AE: drowsiness
secondary impairments that may occur with CVA
decreased sensation leads to: •PI •unilateral neglect •decreased motor learning
DVT, PE, osteoporosis, pneumonia, atelectasis etc…
L CVA
- aphasias
- apraxias (L more often than R CVA)
- slow and cautious
- hesitant
- R hemiplegia
- R sensory loss
- R homonymous hemianopsia
R CVA
- visuospatial issues
- quick and impulsive- need to be told to slow down
- overestimate their abilities and deny their problems= increased safety risk
- short attention spans
- easily distractable
Brunnstrom vs. Bobath
Brunnstrom:
•use synergies and associated reactions
•6 stages of recovery
•synergy patterns
Bobath:
•3 stages of recovery
• does not use synergies or associated reactions
•does use automatic righting and equilibrium reactions
•does not use resistance or excessive effort because that leads to increased tone
•does use functional strengthening
TX: integrate both sides and influence tone through key points of control through positioning and movement
Synergies: UE flexor
Scapula: retracted
Shoulder: abducted, ER, and hyperextended
Elbow: flexed* and supinated
Wrist/fingers: flexed
Synergies: UE extensor
Scapula: protracted
Shoulder: adducted*, IR, extended
Elbow: extended and pronated*
Wrist/fingers: flexed
Synergies: LE flexor
Hip: flexed*, abducted, ER
Knee: flexed
Ankle: DF and IN
Toes: extended
Synergies: LE extensor
Hip: extended, add*, IR
Knee: extended*
Ankle: PF, IN
Toes: flexed
Associated reactions
- Homolateral synkinesis
- Raimeste’s
- Soque’s
Associated reactions: General
- resist flex/ext of UE produces the same in the other UE
* resist flex/ext of LE produces the opposite in the contralateral LE
Associated reactions: Homolateral Synkinesis
resisted flexion of UE produces increased flexor tone in the LE on the same side of the body
Associated reactions: Raimete’s
ABD or ADD of UE or LE produces the same tone on the contralateral side