Lecture 8: Cerebrovascular Disease Flashcards
How quickly does cell death and irreparable damage occur in CVA?
Within 5 minutes of losing blood flow.
What are the 3 primary arteries of the brain?
- Anterior cerebral artery (ACA): medial/frontal, anterior basal ganglia
- Medial cerebral artery (MCA): lateral frontal/parietal, anterior and lateral temporal, remaining basal ganglia
- Posterior cerebral artery (PCA): Thalamus, brainstem, posterior/medial temporal, occipital.
MCA is most commonly occluded artery
What supplies the cerebral arteries?
- Penetrating vessels
- Vertebrobasilars
- Internal carotids
What is the leading cause of disability in the US?
Stroke ):
MC after 65 and in men.
What is the MC type of stroke?
Ischemic stroke
4 out of 5 strokes are ischemic
Describe an ischemic stroke.
Acute occlusion of intracranial vessels leading to a reduction of blood flow, resulting in cell hypoxia and loss of neurologic function.
What is the penumbra?
Surrounding tissue around the ischemic core of a stroke, which can remain viable for HOURS after stroke.
What is the ischemic core?
Area of complete loss of blood flow, resulting in death of that area in 4-10 minutes.
What are the 2 pathologic etiologies that can result in ischemic stroke?
- Thrombotic: related to ruptured atherosclerotic plaques leading to platelet activation.
- Embolic: embolus forming at an extracranial source. (think AFIB)
What risk factors are specific to younger patients in CVA?
- TBI
- Coagulopathies
- Illicit drug use (cocaine)
- Migraines
- OCP use
- Covid
What two processes result from the rupture of a cerebral artery?
- Cerebral ischemia
- Increased ICP
What are the 2 types of hemorrhagic strokes?
- Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) usually due to prolonged uncontrolled HTN
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (aneurysms, AV malformation, trauma)
What are the risk factors for hemorrhagic strokes?
- Advanced age
- HTN
- Anticoag use
- Previous stroke hx
- Alcohol
- Illicit drug use
What is the stroke mnemonic?
- Balance
- Eyes
- Face
- Arm
- Speech
- Time
Please know this!!!!
Which stroke typically presents worse?
Hemorrhagic stroke
What is the MC S/S of a hemorrhagic stroke?
- Thunderclap headache
- Worst HA of their life or 10/10
What is the most important historical thing in stroke workup?
Knowing the onset!!!!!!!!!!!
What two drug types would be of concern in workup for stroke?
Oral hypoglycemic agents or anticoagulants
What skin findings are sometimes seen in stroke?
- Infective endocaritis: Petechiae, janeway lesions, oslers
- Cholesterol emboli: livedo reticularis/gangrene
- Bleeding diathesis: Purpura, ecchymoses
- Recent surgery scars
What are the 7 aspects of the NIH Stroke scale?
- Mental status/LOC
- Vision (confrontation)
- Motor function
- Cerebellar function (finger nose, heel shin)
- Sensory function
- Language (ability to describe and perform a task)
- Neglect
What are the severities of the NIHHS?