Stroke Flashcards
Name the classification system that assess stroke severity.
NIHSS - national institutes of health stroke scale
Name the oxfordshire community stroke project classifications.
TACS - total anterior circulation syndrome
PACS - partial anterior circulation syndrome
POCS - posterior circulation syndrome
LACS - lacunar syndrome
What is total anterior circulation syndrome?
The symptoms of a patient who clinically appears to have suffered a total anterior circulation stroke, but hasn’t had a diagnostic test yet
The symptoms are
- higher cortical dysfunction (dysphasia, visuospatial disturbances and decreased level of consciousness)
- homonymous hemianopia
- hemiparesis
What is the most common cause of TACS?
Proximal middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery occlusion
What is partial anterior circulation syndrome?
The symptoms of a patient that suggests they have had a partial anterior circulation stroke. The symptoms are - isolated higher cortical dysfunction OR 2 OF - hemiparesis - higher cortical dysfunction - hemianopia
What is the most common cause of PACS?
Occlusion of a branch of the middle cerebral artery
What is posterior circulation syndrome?
The symptoms of a patient who clinically appears to have had a posterior circulation stroke The symptoms are - isolated hemianopia OR - brainstem syndrome
What is the most common cause of POCS?
Disruption of the posterior cerebral or cerebellar arteries
What is lacunar syndrome?
The symptoms of a patient who clinically appears to have had a lacunar stroke The symptoms ONE OF - pure motor stroke - pure sensory stroke - sensorimotor stroke - ataxic hemiparesis - clumsy hand-dysarthria
What is the most common cause of LACS?
Small vessel disease or a perforating artery in a small (<1.5cm) area of the brain
What are the two types of stroke?
Ischaemic stroke - blockage of blood vessels causing lack of blood flow to the affected area
Hemorrhagic stroke - rupture of blood vessels causing leakage of blood into the brain
Where is a normal place for a hemorrhagic stroke in hypertensive patients, and why?
In the perforating arteries branching directly off the middle cerebral artery
- the sudden change from wide blood vessel to small blood vessel, coupled with the hypertension, leads to a very sudden increase in pressure, causing the vessels to burst
- this is known as a hypertensive pattern of stroke
How are intracerebral haemorrhages treated?
ABCs Admit to the stroke unit Prevent haematoma expansion Neurosurgery (only when indicated) Treat pyrexia DVT prophylaxis - intermittent pneumatic compression stockings Nutrition and early rehab
How can haematoma expansion be prevented?
Reverse anticoagulants - prothrombin complex concentrate is better than fresh frozen plasma - reversal agent for dabigatran - vitamin K infusion for warfarin Lower BP
In what circumstances should an intracerebral haemorrhage be treated with neurosurgery?
When the haematoma is less than 1cm from the cortical surface
It’s a clinically deteriorating posterior fossa haematoma
Surgery done too early may be harmful