Exam 1 Info Flashcards
stroke
sudden loss of neurological function caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain
-signs/symptoms > 24 hours
transient ischemic attack
temporary impairment of blood flow
-signs/symptoms < 24 hours [usually minutes to hours]
causes of an ischemic stroke
- thrombus (blood clot)
- embolus (blood, plaque, or other matter)
- hypotension
Which artery is normally involved with the ischemic stroke?
MCA
lacunar stroke
- small vessels involved, can be purely motor or purely sensory
- tends to have better outcome (b/c small artery)
- deep in the white matter of the brain
hemorrhagic stroke
- blood vessel rupture leading to decreased blood to downstream structures & pressure on nearby structures
- can be intra-cerebral or subarachnoic
potential causes for hemorrhagic stroke
- aneurysm
- arterial-venous malformation
aneurysm
-dilation in a blood vessel
list of general risk factors for stroke
- exercise
- diet
- blood pressure
- cholesterol
- diabetes
- smoking
- atrial fibrillation
- family history
arteriovenous malformation
abnormal collection of small arteries
time frame of being able to use t-PA
if stroke occurred less than 3 hours previously
signs/symptoms of stroke
- focal weakness
- speech impairments
intracerebral hemorrhage signs/symptoms
progressive worsening of signs and symptoms with loss of consciousness
angiogram
- invasive test (requires insertion of catheter & dye)
- used to image blood vessels
- not good for acute strokes due to the time it takes to administer
CT
- computed tomography
- generally good for imaging mass lesions
- best choice for detecting subarachnoid hemorrhage
- not as sensitive for detecting ischemic strokes
MRI
- magnetic resonance imaging
- T2 best for detecting pathologies (more water present)
Which imaging is preferred for detecting ischemic strokes?
MRI
diffusion weighted MRI
- can detect ischemia within minutes of inclusion
- highly sensitive & specific in diagnosing ischemic stroke
multi-infarct dementia
- multiple small strokes deep in white matter
- associated with advancing age and HTN
- cause dementia
- chronic
- neuronal tissue decreasing
- motor function is fine but generally more confused state of mind
thrombolysis
- is the breakdown (lysis) of blood clots by pharmacological means, and commonly called clot busting
- t-PA
- indicated for patients with an ischemic stroke within 3 hours of onset
- does not affect mortality but does help with reduction of disability/mobility months later
ischemic stroke cascade
circulatory arrest -> focal infarction -> release of neurotransmitters -> altered metabolism with depolarization -> brain cells cease to produce energy -> influx of calcium -> free radical formation -> release of nitric oxide & cytokines -> further damage to brain cells
ACA syndrome
- contralateral hemiparesis & sensory loss
- LE more involved (due to homunculus)
- personality & behavioral changes
MCA syndrome
- contralateral hemiparesis & sensory loss
- UE more involved
- speech/language impairments OR perceptual problems [determined by which side of the brain is dominant]
internal carotid artery syndrome
- produces massive infarct of MCA & can impact ACA
- significant edema is common & can result in herniation, coma & death
- massive infarct & with an entire hemisphere affected there is not big opportunity for neuroplasticity [which is why the edema can easily come in]