Stroke Flashcards
Definition of Stroke
Acute onset Focal neurologic deficit (not usually altered consciousness) Cerebrovascular cause (Ischemic - 85%)
Stroke Warning Signs
Vision Loss Numbness on one side Unsteady gait Weakness on one side Loss of speech or comprehension
Types of Stroke
Ischemic: Thromobitic (occlusion) or Emobolic (traveling clot)
Hemorrhagic: Intracerebral (Hypertension, inner surface of brain) or Subarachnoid (aneurysm, outer surface, very lethal)
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Rupture of blood vessels in subarachnoid space
Aneurysm, trauma
Ischemic Stroke
Arterial occlusion with brain infarction (ant., mid., post. cerebral aa.)
Ischemic Penumbra
Area around the focus of an ischemic event
Kept alive due to collateral flow
Treatment attempts to salvage it to minimize damage
Most Common Ischemic Artery
Middle Cerebral Artery
Provieds 2/3 of blood supply to brain
Risk factors - Unmodifiable
Age
Gender (Male - More likely, Female - Higher mortality)
Race (Hispanic/Black elevated)
Heredity
Risk factors - Modifiable
Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, Heart disease, A fib, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Obesity/Inactivity, Diabetes, Smoking, Carotid disease, Heavy alcohol use
Acute Therapy
Thrombolysis
TPA _ Tissue plasminogen activator
Recovery
Limit the neurologic damage
Prevention of complications
Rehabilitation
Education
Prevention of secondary stroke
Risk factor modification
Specific: Based on stroke mechanism
