Medicine (4) Flashcards
Contraindication to thrombolysis
- active internal bleeding
- recent haemorrhage, trauma or surgery (including dental extraction)
- coagulation and bleeding disorders
- intracranial neoplasm
- stroke < 3 months
- aortic dissection
- recent head injury
- pregnancy
- severe hypertension
Drugs used in thrombolysis and their MoA
Drugs include streptokinase/alteplase
MoA: Work as tissue plasminogen activators
Treatment of ischaemic stroke (outside of thrombolysis window)
Aspirin 300mg (once haemorrhagic stroke excluded)
Management of patient with a stroke (following acute admission)
Conservative
- Stroke rehabilitation – physiotherapy, SALT, depression screening
- Education and optimizing modifiable risk factors (e.g. smoking/alcohol/weight/diet)
- Patients are required to inform the DVLA following a stroke
- Treatment of the complications of stroke (bowel/bladder problems, fatigue, contractures)
Medical
- Antiplatelet therapy (if no AF) with clopidogrel or anticoagulation (if AF present) with warfarin/NOAC.
- Control medical risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, obstructive
sleep apnoea)
Surgical
• A carotid endarterectomy can be considered if stenosis is >70%
Signs and symptoms associated with anterior cerebral a. stroke
Signs and symptoms associated with Middle cerebral a. stroke
Signs and symptoms associated with posterior cerebral a. stroke
What happens with Basilar a. stroke?
Locked-in syndrome
Signs and symptoms associated with anterior inferior cerebellar a. stroke
Signs and symptoms associated with posterior inferior cerebellar a. stroke
Features of Total Anterior Circulation stroke
Total anterior circulation infarct (TACI)
- Highest total mortality (60% by one year) and very poor chance of making a good recovery to independent living (less than 5%)
Three features- all three are present:
- Contralateral hemiparesis
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cortical dysfunction
(dysphasia or dyspraxia or inattention)
Features of Partial Anterior Circulation infract
Partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI)
Two out of the three features of TACI; typically
- Higher cortical dysfunction plus
- Contralateral weakness or sensory loss
Features of Posterior Circulation infract
Any of the three main possibilities:
- Contralateral homonymnous hemianopia OR
- Cerebellar signs OR
- Brainstem signs (e.g. quadraplegia, gaze/visual disturbance)
Features of Lacunar infarct
Presents with 1 of the following:
- unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit) of face and arm, arm and leg or all three.
- pure sensory stroke.
- ataxic hemiparesis
What other conditions can mimic stroke?
- Hypoglycaemia
- Head injury
- Subdural haemorrhage
- Intracranial tumours
- Hemiplegic migraine
- Post-seizure (Todd’s paresis)
- CNS infection (e.g. toxoplasmosis, abscess, herpes encephalitis)