Stroke Flashcards
List the publicity campaign’s Signs of Stroke using the Acronym.
FAST
Face: Face fallen on one side/cannot smile
Arms: cannot raise both arms and maintain them there
Speech: Speak clearly and coherently
Time: Call 999
Outline the Local (Fife) Protocol regarding Strokes.
Hospital admission for immediate assessment, investigation and treatment.
CT scanned on day of admission
Water swallow screening test on day of admission
Admit to stroke unit (90% target)
Suspected TIAs refer to TIA clinic - 4 per week in NHS Fife.
- Electronic referrals to TIA clinics screened daily by stroke consultant
What is a TIA?
Sudden loss of focal or monocular function due to ischaemia from micro emboli or microthrombi associated with arterial, cardiac or haematolgical disease with symptoms lasting less than 24 hours
Suggest 5 focal neurological categories of symptoms. For each category, give an example of a symptom.
Motor:
- Hemiparesis
- Bilateral weakness
- Dysphagia
- Ataxia
Speech/Language:
- Dysphagia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyscalculia
- Dysarthria
Sensory:
- Somatosensory (hemisensory disturbance)
- Sensory inattention
Visual:
- Amaurosis fugax
- Homonomous hemianopia
- Quadrantanopia
- Diplopia
Vestibular:
- Vertigo
Behavioural/Cognitive: - Difficulty dressing - Combing hair - Cleaning hair Cleaning teeth Visualspatial-perception dysfunction
List 5 symptoms which are non-focal neurological symptoms. What might these suggest?
- Generalised weakness ± sensory disturbance
- Light headedness/faintness
- Blackouts with altered/loss of consciousness fainting ± impaired vision in both eyes
- Incontinence of urine or faeces
- Confusion
- Intermittent diplopia
Any if isolated:
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Dysphagia
- Dysarthria
- Diplopia
- Ataxia
Consider:
- Hypoglycaemia
- Migraines
- Focal epilepsy
- Syncope
- Cerebral hypoperfusion
What arteries supply the anteriomedial area of the cerebrum?
Anterior cerebral arteries
What arteries supply the lateral area of the cerebrum?
Middle cerebral arteries
What arteries supply the posterior area of the cerebrum?
Posterior cerebral arteries
Give the criteria for a TACS Ischaemic Stroke.
What does this stand for?
- Unilateral weakness
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cerebral dysfunction (dysphagia, visuospatial disorder)
TACS = Total Anterior Cerebral Stroke
Give the criteria for a PACS.
What does this stand for?
2/3
- Unilateral weakness
- Homonymous hemianopia
- Higher cerebral dysfunction (dysphagia, visuospatial disorder)
PACS = Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke
Give the criteria for a LACS.
What does this stand for?
One of the following:
- Sensory stroke
- Motor stroke
- Sensori-motor stroke
- Ataxic hemiparesis
Give the criteria for a POCS.
What does this stand for?
One of the following:
- Cerebellar syndrome: DANISH
- Cranial nerve palsy and a contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- Bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- Conjugate eye movement (e.g. gaze palsy)
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia or cortical blindness
BICCC
A patient presents following a sudden bilateral motor deficit. O/E everything else is fine however he cannot move both arms.
A CT scan shows occlusion of a blood vessel in the brain.
Where is this occlusion most likely to be?
What type of stroke would this be?
Using the Bamford Classification of Stroke, what type of stroke is this?
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Ischaemic
POCS:
- Bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
- Cranial nerve palsy and contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- Cerebellar Syndrome: DANISH
- Conjugate eye movement
A patient presents following a sudden cranial nerve palsy and contralateral sensory deficit. O/E everything else is fine however he cannot move both arms.
A CT scan shows occlusion of a blood vessel in the brain.
Where is this occlusion most likely to be?
What type of stroke would this be?
Using the Bamford Classification of Stroke, what type of stroke is this?
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Ischaemic
POCS:
- Bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
- Cranial nerve palsy and contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- Cerebellar Syndrome: DANISH
- Conjugate eye movement
A patient presents following a sudden nystagmus, ataxia, intention tremor and dysdiadochokinesia. O/E everything else is fine however he cannot move both arms.
A CT scan shows occlusion of a blood vessel in the brain.
Where is this occlusion most likely to be?
What type of stroke would this be?
Using the Bamford Classification of Stroke, what type of stroke is this?
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Ischaemic
POCS:
- Bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
- Cranial nerve palsy and contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- Cerebellar Syndrome: DANISH
- Conjugate eye movement
A patient presents following a sudden change in eye movement identified to be a conjugate eye movement. O/E everything else is fine however he cannot move both arms.
A CT scan shows occlusion of a blood vessel in the brain.
Where is this occlusion most likely to be?
What type of stroke would this be?
Using the Bamford Classification of Stroke, what type of stroke is this?
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Ischaemic
POCS:
- Bilateral motor/sensory deficit
- Isolated homonymous hemianopia
- Cranial nerve palsy and contralateral motor/sensory deficit
- Cerebellar Syndrome: DANISH
- Conjugate eye movement
a 67 year old patient presents with a feeling of complete weakness on one half of their body, visual disturbances and has said they no longer recognise space as well.
O/E you identify they have weak swallowing, confirmed by their recent anorexia due to difficulty swallowing, you identify vision loss on the L side in both eyes and confirm the hemiparesis.
What are these signs and symptoms and what are they suggestive of?
Where would the stroke most likely be and what area of brain would this affect?
What type of Stroke is this and give the Bamford classification.
- Hemiparesis
- Dysphagia
- Homonymous hemiparesis
Ischaemic stroke
Anterior cerebral arteries
Anteromedial brain
TACS
A 54 year old patient presents with a pure sensory stroke. What type of stroke is this using the Bamford classification of strokes?
Lacunar Syndrome (LACS)
Which is the largest branch of the Internal Carotid Artery?
Middle Cerebral Artery
Which artery is the most common cerebral occlusion site?
Middle Cerebral Artery
List 3 key areas secondary stroke prevention is focused on. For each, give details.
BP: ACEi + Diuretics; < 140/90 or 130/90mmHg if diabetic
Lipids: Statins - Simvastatin 40mg or Atorvastatin 40mg-80mg
Antiplatelets: 300mg aspirin ASAP and for 14 days - Clopidogrel 75mg \+ Lansoprazole OR - Aspirin + Dipyridamole
Lifestyle:
- Smoking cessation
- CME 150 mins + x2 resistance exercises
- Reduce alcohol
- Healthy diet: low salt, low fat, increased fruit and vegetables
- Good diabetes control HbA1c < 7%
Why should you not co-prescribe Omeprazole or Esomeprazole with Clopidogrel for secondary prevention of a stroke?
Potential antagonism of anti platelet effect
List 3 lifestyle changes that can be made as part of secondary prevention of stroke.
Lifestyle:
- Smoking cessation
- CME 150 mins + x2 resistance exercises
- Reduce alcohol
- Healthy diet: low salt, low fat, increased fruit and vegetables
- Good diabetes control HbA1c < 7%
What is amaurosis fugax?
Temporary loss or partial loss of vision in one eye secondary to TIA
What is the likely cause of amaurosis fugax?
Embolus from carotid artery distribution
Define a Lacunar Stroke.
Small infarct (2-20mm diameter) in deep cerebral white matter basal ganglia, Pons, presumed to result from occlusion of a single small perforating artery supplying the subcortical areas o the brain - e.g. caused by small vessel disease
What is the most important initial investigation in someone presenting with stroke.
What is the main purpose of this investigation?
CT-head
Rule out haemorrhage
Define a TIA.
Transient episode