CVA intro to gero Flashcards
What does CVA stand for?
Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
CVA is commonly referred to as a stroke.
What are the two main types of stroke?
- Ischemic
- Hemorrhagic
What is the primary cause of ischemic stroke?
Thrombotic Plaque (blood clott)
What causes an embolic stroke?
Atrial Fibrillation (blood clott somewhere else in the body &travels to brain)
What is a hemorrhagic stroke often caused by?
- Hypertension
- Aneurysm
What does TIA stand for?
-Transient Ischemic Attack
(mimics a stroke with the symptoms but usually resolves within some time)
-may cause a stroke later on in life
What defines a TIA?
Transient loss of blood flow to brain resulting in temporary neurologic dysfunction
What are common risk factors for stroke?
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Weight
- Exercise
- Alcohol use
- A-Fib
- CAD
- Ethnicity
- Atherosclerosis stenosis
What does the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T. stand for in stroke recognition?
- Balance
- Eyes (loss of vision?)
- Face (does the face look uneven?)
- Arms (is one arm hanging limp?)
- Speech (trouble speaking?)
- Time (time is of the essence)
What diagnostic studies are performed for patients with a stroke?
- CT Scan (non contrast)
- MRI/MRA
- Brain Scan / Angiography
- EEG (to rule out seizers)
- Labs: Clotting factors (PT, PTT, INR)
What is the purpose of the NIH Stroke Scale?
To assess the severity of a stroke
(high score=poor)
What is the GCS?
Glasgow Coma scale Assessment
(quick stroke assessment)
15= best
7=coma
What is Decussation?
is where motor fibers from the brain cross over in the medulla (part of the brainstem), so the left side of your brain controls the muscles on the right side of your body.
What are the clinical manifestations of a right hemisphere stroke?
(Harder to recover)
* Left-sided deficits
* Visual/spatial sense deficits
* Poor judgment /impulsiveness
* Denial of deficits
*neglect syndrome
*Disorientation
What are the clinical manifestations of a left hemisphere stroke?
(Safer Rehab)
* Right-sided deficits
* Language deficits (Aphasia)
* Agraphia (inability to write)
* Alexia (inability to read)
* Acalculia (inability to calculate)
*depressed, cautious, anxious
What is Homonymous Hemianopsia?
-happens in left posterior cerebral artery stroke
-causes vision cuts
-Right CVA=left vision cuts
-Left CVA=right vision cuts
What is the treatment window for administering tPA in ischemic stroke?
3 to 4.5 hours from the onset of stroke symptoms
What is the goal of treatment in ischemic stroke?
Re-perfuse the brain tissue
What are some nursing diagnoses for stroke patients?
- Ineffective Tissue Perfusion: Cerebral
- Risk for aspiration / Impaired Swallowing
- Altered thought processes
- Disturbed sensory perception
- Impaired physical mobility
What does oval eye shape mean?
increased ICP (intercranial pressure)
What does fixed and dilated pupils mean?
severe damage to brain
What is one of the main goals in the acute phase of stroke management?
Maintain Airway – SaO2 > 93%
What interventions are crucial during the rehabilitation phase of stroke care?
- Dysphagia precautions
- Swallow evaluation by Speech Therapist
- VTE prophylaxis
What is the significance of the Joint Commission’s Core Measure Set for Stroke?
To ensure quality care for stroke patients through standardized measures