Stroke Flashcards
Definition - Sudden/Gradual disturbance of cerebral function of vascular origin that either causes ____ or symptoms last over ___ hours
Sudden
Death
Over 24 hours
What 4 things do you need to find out about the stroke
Type of stroke
Size of stroke
Laterality of stroke
Cause of stroke
Driving rules following stroke
Advise patient not to drive for a month after the stroke but no need to tell the DVLA
What are the 2 types of stroke
Haemorrhage
Ischaemia/infarct
Haemorrhagic stroke - definition
Bleeding from an artery due to a rupture/leak
Haemorrhagic stroke - causes
Structural abnormality - tumour
Hypertensive
Amyloid angiopathy
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Whats the most common cause of a non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage
PKD (berry aneurysm)
Infarct/ischaemia - more/less common than haemorrhage?
More common
Infarct/ischaemia - definition
Interruption of cerebral blood flow due to a thrombus or embolus
Infaract/ischaemia is more common in males/females?
Males
Infarct/ischaemia - thrombotic stroke - most commonly affects which artery?
Middle cerebral artery
Infarct/ischaemia - embolic stroke - most occlusions occur in the branches of which artery?
Middle cerebral artery
Red thrombus
Cardioembolic clot
White thrombus
Atheroembolic clot
What is the most severe type of stroke?
Total Anterior Circulation Syndrome (TACS)
A large/small area of brain is affected with a Total Anterior Circulation Syndrome (TACS)
Large area of brain affected
Total Anterior Circulation Syndrome (TACS) - clinical features
Ipsilateral motor (hemiplegia) and/or sensory deficit involving at least 2 of: Face Arm Leg \+ Visual field defect: Homonymous hemianopia \+ Cortical dysfunction - dysphasia - neglect
Partial Anterior Circulation Syndrome (PACS) - definition
Less severe than TACS as there is a smaller area of brain affected and therefore there are slightly less severe symptoms and signs
Partial Anterior Circulation Syndrome (PACS) - clinical features
2 or 3 features present in TACS - hemiplegia - visual field defect - cortical dysfunction: dysphasia, dysphagia OR Isolated cortical dysfunction - dysphasia - weakness - pure motor/sensory signs less severe than in lacunar syndromes
Lacunar Syndrome (LACS) - definition
Small infarcts in the deeper parts of the brain (basal ganglia, thalamus, white matter) and in the brainstem
Which type of stroke has the best prognosis?
Lacunar syndrome
Lacunar syndrome (LACS) - causes
Hypertension
Occlusion of a single deep penetrating artery
Blockage in the small branch of the arteries
Lacunar syndrome (LACS) - clinical features
Pure motor hemiparesis OR pure sensory deficit of one side of the body OR an ataxic hemiparesis Affects any 2 of the following - face - arm - leg
NO visual field defect
It is either PURE motor or PURE sensory
Posterior circulation syndrome (POCS) affects which 2 arteries
Vertebral arteries
Basilar arteries
Posterior circulation syndrome (POCS) - clinical features
Ipsilateral CN palsies with contralateral motor and/or sensory deficit
isolated homonymous hemianopia
cortical blindness
Cerebellar deficits without ipsilateral motor/sensory signs
Unilateral/bilateral motor and/or sensory deficits
Carotid artery disease - clinical features
Contralateral weakness or sensory loss
If dominant hemisphere is affected then there may be aphasia or apraxia
Middle cerebral artery occlusion - clinical features
Weakness predominantly in contralateral face and arm
Anterior cerebral artery occlusion - clinical features
Weakness and sensory loss in contralateral leg
In most people, the RIGHT side of the brain is the dominant hemisphere. True or false?
False
- Left side is most dominant in 95% of people
Functions of the dominant hemisphere
Speech and language
Reasoning
Written language
Numeracy skills
Functions of the non-dominant hemisphere
Creativity
Music
Artistic awareness
Spacial orientation
If someone has a stroke affecting the RIGHT/LEFT side of the brain, they tend to have more disability from it
Left side = more disability
If someone has a stroke affecting the left side of the brain, it will affect the left side of the body. True or false?
False
- affects right side of the body
Name 3 possible causes of stroke
Arteriosclerotic
Hypertension
Atrial fibrillation
What is the most common cause of stroke
AF
TIA - definition
Transient obstruction of blood flow causing a sudden onset of symptoms that typically last for an hour but not more than 24 hours