Stroke Flashcards
1
Q
Types of Strokes
A
Ischaemic stroke – Majority (80%) • Occur due to a blockage in the blood vessels supplying the brain • Two types of Ischaemic stroke – Thrombotic stroke – Embolic stroke
2
Q
Thrombotic Stroke
A
Occurs when there is a blockage inside a blood vessel that supplies brain tissue • Commonly occur in the internal carotid artery or smaller intracranial vessels • Formed from atherosclerosis • Permanent disruption to brain function occurs • Often fatal
3
Q
Embolic Stroke
A
Fragments of a thrombus formed outside the brain travel and lodge in small brain vessels causing obstruction & ischaemia • Most commonly from the heart during abnormal hear function (AF) • Fat emboli from fractures less common
4
Q
Types of Stroke, continued…
A
Haemorrhagic stroke • Occurs in response to bleeding in the brain • Two main types: – Intracerebral haemorrhage – Subarachnoid haemorrhage
5
Q
Intracerebral haemorrhage
A
Accounts for approx 10% of all strokes • Related to hypertension & ruptured aneurysms • Other causes include bleeding tumour, bleeding disorders, anticoagulation medications, head trauma, illicit drug use (cocaine)
6
Q
Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
A
Accounts for approx. 5% of all strokes • Bleeding into the subarachnoid space that contains CSF • Haematoma causes an increase in intracranial pressure • Impairs circulation of CSF & blood supply to the brain • Produces inflammatory reaction
7
Q
Transient Ischaemic Attacks
A
TIA’s are temporary decreases in blood flow to the brain • Results in brief changes in brain function • Due to blood clots or a vessel undergoing a spasm or narrowing • No permanent brain injury, symptoms usually resolved within 1 hour • Warning sign
8
Q
Clinical Manifestations
A
Right brain damage, paralysed left side: Hemiplegia lefts sided neglect spatial-perceptial defecits tends to deny or minimise problems rapid performance, short attention span impulsive, safety problems impaired judgement impaired time concepts
left brain damage, paralysed right side: hemiplegia impaired speech/language impaired right/left discrimination slow performance, cautious aware of dfecits: depression/anxiety impaired comprehension due to language, mathmatics
9
Q
Pharmacology
Thrombotic & Embolitic stroke only
A
Altepase – Fibrinolytic agent – Must be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset • Heparin, Warfarin – Anticoagulants • Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Dipyridamole – Prevent platelet aggregation
