Stroke Flashcards
What is a stroke?
Rapid onset of cerebral ischaemia + neuropathy due to disrupted blood supply to brain
Causes of stroke
HT, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, AF, diabetes, sleep apnoea, thrombophilia, migraine, SLE, amyloidosis
S/S of stroke
Opposite-side limb weakness, aplasia, hemphagia/hemiparesis, facial weakness, headache/unconsciousness
Investigations
CT brain scan
MRI with diffusion weighted imaging + angioplasty
MRI with gradient recalled echo + angioplasty
What investigation shows old haemosiderin deposits?
MRI with GRE
Types of stroke
Ischaemic and haemorrhagic
Types of ischaemic stroke
Atheroembolism and cardioembolism
Which type of stroke is most common?
Ischaemic
What is an ischaemic stroke?
Blockage of internal carotid artery due to atherosclerosis, arterial disease or arrhythmias
Investigations into atheroembolisms
Carotid scanning
CT/MR angiography of aortic arch
Investigations into cardioembolisms
ECG for AF, LVH
ECHO - bubble contrast, 24 hr
What is a haemorrhagic stroke?
Weakened blood vessel wall due to inflammation/aneurysm/drugs/HT = bleeding = reduced blood flow to brain
What is a TIA?
Brief episode of neurological dysfunction without brain damage
What does a TIA indicate?
A future stoke
Immediate treatment of TIA
Thrombolysis (TIA is a medical emergency)
