Stroke Flashcards
Name the arteries of the circle of willis
- Anterior cerebral
- Posterior cerebral
- Middle cerebral
- Anterior and posterior communicating
- Internal carotid
Two main arteries of CoW are?
Internal carotid and vertebral
Why is the CoW important?
if there is a clot, the connecting arteries can compensate
What is a stroke?
A rapidly developing clinical symptoms of focal loss of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours due to a disturbance of blood flow to the brain
What is a TIA?
Transient ishemic attack -
A mini stroke which is a temporary blockage - usually lasts less than 24 hours
If you have one of these, high rate of actual stroke
What is an ischaemic attack?
A lack of blood supply to the brain. A lot of people survive these. Clots in brain, clots in the heart which travel up. Hypertension.
What is haemorrhagic?
A bleed on the brain.
What is thromboembolism?
Where there is a blood clot and it breaks off into the embolus and this travels up the smaller vessels and blocks them
Why is it important for a stroke pt to get to hospital within 4 hours?
Penumbra will dissolve the clot within 4 hours
Risk factors of stroke?
Age, hypertension, smoking (Most common)
Family history, heart disease, TIA, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol
What does TACS stand for?
Total anterior circulation syndrome
What does PACS stand for?
Partial anterior circulation syndrome
What is the difference between TACS and PACS?
TACS has all 3 of the following symptoms (Major)
PACS has 2 of them but 1 is OK for example speech is OK
What are the signs to look for in TACS and PACS?
Higher dysfunction Speech disorder Visual disorder Decreased level of conscious Vision loss on same side or both Motor and sensory defects 2/3 of face, arm, leg
What does POCS stand for? And what is it?
Posterior circulation syndrome.
Usually to do with posterior vertebral artery
Usually has balance and visual problems
