Stroke Flashcards
Definition of stroke
Neurological deficit (loss of function) of sudden onset, lasting more than 24 hours, of vascular origin
What time defines a TIA?
< 24 hours
What does TIA stand for?
Transient ischaemic attack
Two types of causes of stroke
- Ischaemic stroke
2. Haemorrhagic stroke
What is the penumbra?
Area of tissue in the brain that can get some oxygen from other places and so is “asleep” - not dead
Causes of haemorrhage in stroke
Congenital weakness
HTN
Aneurysm
What do the symptoms of stroke correlate to?
Part of the brain affected
Main anatomical vessels of the brain
Anterior circulation
Posterior circulation
Circle of willis
What supplies the anterior part of the brain?
Two carotid arteries
What joins together to form the circle of willis?
Anterior and posterior circulations
Where is a clot most likely to go in the circle of willis?
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
What does the carotid system supply?
Most of the hemispheres
Cortical deep white matter
What does the vertebra-basilar system supply?
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Occipital
What is found anterior to the central sulcus?
Motor cortex
What is found posterior to the central sulcus?
Sensory cortex
Function of motor cortex
Movement
Function of sensory cortex
Pain, heat and other sensations
Function of parietal lobe
Comprehension of language
Function of temporal lobe
Hearing
Intellectual and emotional functions
Function of occipital lobe
Primary visual area
Function of wernickes area
Speech comprehension
Function of cerebellum
Coordination
Function of brainstem
Breathing Swallowing Heartbeat Wakefullness centre Involuntary functions
Function of Brocas area
Speech
Function of frontal lobe
Smell
Judgement
Foresight
Voluntary movement
Definition of TIA
Warning stroke or mini stroke, with stroke like symptoms persisting less than 24 hours, that clears without residual ability
How many patients who have a TIA will have an acute stroke at some point?
1/3rd
Causes of stroke
Blockage of vessel with thrombus or clot
Disease of vessel wall e.g. atheroscleroma
Disturbance of normal properties of the blood e.g. leukaemia
Rupture of the vessel wall (haemorrhage)
What % of strokes are due to infarction?
85%
What % of strokes are due to haemorrhage?
15%
Causes of ischaemic stroke
Large artery atherosclerosis (e.g. carotid) Cardioembolic (e.g. AF) Small artery occlusion (lacunar) Undetermined/cryptogenic Rare causes - arterial dissection - venous sinus thrombosis
Causes of haemorrhagic stroke
Primary ICH
Secondary haemorrhage
- SAH
- AV malformation
How does a haemorrhagic stroke affect the brain?
Blood causes pressure effects and squashes the surrounding brain tissue