Stroke

Question 1

What is a stroke?

Answer 1

Rapidly progressive clinical symptoms and signs of a focal (or global) loss of cerebral function that lasts more than 24 hours with no other cause than vascular origin

Question 2

What are the two main types of stroke?

Answer 2

Ischaemic (80%) and haemorrhagic (20%)

Question 3

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Answer 3

Hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, smoking, weight, alcohol consumption, family history etc.

Question 4

How is stroke treated?

Answer 4

Thrombolysis, address risk factors, treat complications

Question 5

How does ischaemia lead to cell death?

Answer 5

Ischaemia causes failure of Na+/K+ potassium pumps which causes depolarisation (causing Ca2+ channels to open) and glutamate release which works to cause Ca2+ release from intracellular stores leading to elevated intracellular calcium which causes cell death

Question 6

What is the pyramidal system?

Answer 6

Consists of the primary motor cortex, internal capsule, cerebral peduncles, medullary pyramids and descending corticospinal tracts

Question 7

Which artery gives off the lenticulostriate arteries which supply the basal ganglia?

Answer 7

Middle cerebral artery

Question 8

What is a TIA?

Answer 8

Transient ischaemic attack whereby there is an acute loss of focal cerebral or monocular function with symptoms lasting less than 24 hours

Question 9

What are the causes of intracerebral haemorrhage?

Answer 9

Primary = hypertension (micro aneurysms)
Secondary = trauma, tumour, thrombosis, drugs or coagulopathy