Stroke Flashcards
What is the definition of a stroke?
Rapidly deteriorating clinical signs of focal disturbance of cerebral function- lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no other cause other than that of vascular origin
What is a TIA?
Stroke symptoms that resolve within 24 hours- majority resolve within hours
What does the anterior circulation supply?
Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Eyes
What does the posterior circulation supply?
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Thalamus
What are the associated effects of an anterior cerebral artery stroke?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss
Lower extremity affected more than upper extremity
What are the associated effects of a middle cerebral artery stroke?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss
Upper extremity affected more than lower extremity
Aphasia
Homonymous hemianopia
What are the features of a posterior cerebral artery stroke?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Macular sparing
What are the features of an anterior circulation stroke?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss
Homonymous hemianopia
Dysphagia
Dysphasia (If the dominant, most of the time on the left)
Dysarthria
What are the features of a posterior circulation stroke?
Ataxia
Diplopia
Vertigo
Hemiparesis or tetraparesis
How do lacunar strokes present?
One of:
Unilateral weakness (and or sensory deficit) of face and arm, arm and leg or all three
Pure sensory stroke
Ataxic hemiparesis
Motor hemiparesis is due to lacunar infarction in the internal capsule or pons
Pure hemisensory pattern is due to lacunar infarction in the thalamus
What causes a lacunar stroke?
Damage to the internal capsule, thalamus and basal ganglia
What are some risk factors for stroke?
Hypertension Smoking Hyperlipidaemia Atherscleoritc disease FHx of stroke Previous stroke or TIA AF, Mitral Valve disease, Carotid atheroma
What are the two main types of hemorrhagic stroke?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Intracerebral haemorrhage
What is the most common cause of intracerebral haemorrhage?
Hypertension leading to rupture of the small penetrating arteries- most often occurs at the basal ganglia.
AVM or anticoagulants can also cause it.
How does an intracerebral haemorrhage usually present?
Sudden onset neurological deficit with headache
How does a subarachnoid haemorrhage usually present?
Worst ever headache like someone has hit me with a bat on the back of the head.
Vomiting
Neck stiffness
May have neurological defecit
What causes subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm