stroke Flashcards

1
Q

what is a sign of a MCA stroke?

A

Hyperdense MCA sign- early sign of an ischaemic stroke

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2
Q

what are the complications of stroke?

A
cerebral oedema and haemorrhage 
-will show  htn, new signs, GCS 
Aspiration 
Depression 
Reduced cognition
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3
Q

what are the investigations for stroke?

A

Ct first to distinguish is ischaemic or haemorrahgic
MRI to find exact location –DWA (diffuse weighted) is very accurate
Carotid doppler US if carotid suspected
CT angio if coronary artery suspected- if thrombectomy indicated
If unprovoked look for connective tissue disorder
Blds, chol, sugars

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4
Q

how do you classify between total and partial anterior stroke (using bamford criteria)?

A

for total all 3, for partial 2 of:
unilateral weakness
homonmous heminopia
higher cerebral dysfunction- dyshasia, visuospatial problems

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5
Q

What is the different type of lacunar stroke according to bamford criteria for a lacunar syndrome?

A
one of: 
Lacunar infarcts (LACI, c. 25%)
involves deep perforating arteries around the internal capsule, thalamus and basal ganglia
presents with 1 of the following:
1. unilateral weakness (and/or sensory deficit) of face and arm, arm and leg or all three.
2. pure sensory stroke.
3. ataxic hemiparesis
4. sensory-motor stroke
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6
Q

What is the criteria for a posterior circulation stroke?

A
one of:
cranial nerve palsy with contralateral motor or sensory deficit
bilateral motor or sensory deficit
eye movement disorder
isolated homonymous heminopia
cerebellar dysfunction- DANISH
brainstem dysfucntion
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7
Q

What is the management for stroke

A

Thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke

  • in 4.5 hrs
  • use rTPA- recombinant tissue plasminogen activator eg alteplase- improves independence rates. Haemorrhage occurs in 1 in 20

carotid stenosis (buildup of fatty plaques in carotid arteries)- endectomy recommended in two weeks by NICE

thrombectomy is gold standard treatment

Stop driving for four weeks

Give aspirin 300mg then switch to clopidogrel after two weeks. If they have AF give warfarin/ apixaban

preventions ie statin and BP control and DM control

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8
Q

How does carotic dissection normally present?

A

Usually young, can be unprovoked, due to trauma/ vessel weakness, can be due to sympathetic NS eg Horner’s
Classically if when head is pulled back eg at barbers, have headache, neck pain, ptosis, constricted pupil

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9
Q

Describe haemorrhagic stroke

A

Management is to aim for 140 systolic
Roughly 15% of strokes
Usually due to htn but can be due to amyloidosis

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10
Q

Describe bells palsy

A

If patient only has unilateral facial weakness it is likely. NOT FOREHEAD SPARING –UPPER SPARES UPPER and is lmn
Occurs post infection

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11
Q

What is features the ABCD2 score?

A

Age 60+
BP 140/90+
Clinical features: unilateral weakness, speech disturbance
Diabetes
Duration symptoms
(over 60 = 2 points, 10-59 mins - 1 point)

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12
Q

What is ABCD2 for?

A

Assessment probability of stroke in next 24 hours post TIA

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13
Q

What is the criteria for CHA2DS2Vasc?

A
CHF
Htn
Age 75+
Diabetes
Stroke/TIA/thromboembolism
Vascular diease
Age 65-74
Sex - Female
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14
Q

What is CHADSVasc for?

A

risk of stroke if have AF and whether should give warfarin.

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15
Q

What is a CT angio good for?

A

Angio good for vessel blockage/stenosis/dissection- the infarct will be distal to this point. Small strokes may be normal

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16
Q

What is a posterior circulation stroke?

A

occipital/ brainstem/cerebellum stroke usually emboli from heart/vertebral/basilar arteries- dissection can be cause especially if young and have intense job

17
Q

What cardiac infection is linked to strokes?

A

Infective endocarditis

18
Q

How do we investigate IE?

A

Remember to check blood cultures and use Duke’s criteria

19
Q

What might be the cause of unilateral visual loss in sroke?

A

amaurosis fugax- due to retinal artery/ophthalmic artery atherosclerosis or embolism from the heart.

20
Q

How do we treat amaurosis fugax?

A

Treat with carotid enterectomy or stent ASAP

21
Q

What is Todd’s paresis?

A

It is associated with epileptic seizure, that causes temporary neurological deficit of weakness

22
Q

What is the process for a nasogastric tube?

A

When put in a NG tube first test pH of aspirate in tube before every use of the tube and after insertion. If there is no aspirate or pH is more than 5.5 (not acidic enough to be sure is in stomach) then you need to do CXR.

23
Q

MCA vs ACA

A

leg involved in ACA MCA doesnt involve leg

24
Q

mx of TIA?

A

ABCD2

Immediate antithrombotic therapy: give aspirin 300 mg unless pt has bleeding disorder/ on anti-coag or other CI

FOLLOW UP:
1st line: clopidogrel
2nd line: Modified-release dipyridamole in combination with aspirin

Everyone with TIA who after specialist assessment is considered as a candidate for carotid endarterectomy should have urgent carotid imaging.
carotid stenosis of 50% to 99% according to the NASCET criteria: are assessed and referred urgently for carotid endarterectomy to a service following current national standards

25
Q

stroke vs tia?

A

TIA can only be diagnosed if there is no acute infarction on imaging.

26
Q

What are webers and wallenberg strokes?

A

Lateral medullary syndrome (posterior inferior cerebellar artery)
aka Wallenberg’s syndrome
ipsilateral: ataxia, nystagmus, dysphagia, facial numbness, cranial nerve palsy e.g. Horner’s
contralateral: limb sensory loss

Weber’s syndrome
ipsilateral III palsy
contralateral weakness

27
Q

when should trombectomy and thrombolysis be considered for pts?

A

thombolysis eg alteplase - if ischaemic stroke, seen within 4.5 hrs, no CI

National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of more than 5 when considering the selection of patients for mechanical thrombectomy

28
Q

What does a stroke in the basilar artery cause?

A

locked in syndrome