Pathophysiology of Stroke Flashcards
What visual symptoms occur in stroke?
Visual acuity and visual field loss
diplopia, colour vision defects & pupil defects
What are the two classifications of stroke?
Ischemic and Hemorrhagic
What can ischemic stroke be classified into?
- Thrombotic and embolic strokes
What can Hemorrhagic stroke be classified into?
Intracerebral and subarachnoid strokes
What is the most common cause of a ischemic stroke?
Narrowed or blocked arteries
What is the most common cause of narrowing?
Aterosclerosis the deposits of fatty plaques lining the blood vessels
What does large artery atherosclerosis refer to?
Embous/thrombosis of large vessels which are internal carotid artery and basilar artery
What is occlusion of small vessel due to?
Due to chronic disease which causes narrowing of vessels from diabetes and hypertension
What is the blood flow like in a ischemic core area of a stroke?
Significantly reduced, causing hypoxia
What is the blood flow like in ischemic penumbra?
less severely affected, the blood flow is reduced but tissue remains metabolically active
How is an embolic stroke caused?
By an atrial fibrillation
Why does a hemorrhagic stroke occur?
Due to the rupture of blood vessels which compress the brain tissue expanding haematoma
Why does an intracerebral hemorrhage occur?
Rupture of a blood vessel and accumulation of blood within the brain
Why does a subarachnoid hemorrhage occur?
Due to the accumulation of blood in the subarachnoid space. Mainly caused by head trauma or a rupture of a cerebral aneurysm
