Stroke and Parkinsons Flashcards
What are the two main types of stroke?
Haemorrhagic and ischaemic
What’s the difference between the two types of stroke?
Haemorrhagic is a bleed, ischaemic is a blockage caused by a clot
Main cause of stroke?
Atherosclerotic plaque
Incidence/outcomes of stroke?
23% of people die within one month, 3rd leading cause of death in UK
60-70% of people die within 3 years
80% strokes are preventable
WHO definition of stroke?
Rapidly developing clincial signs of disturbance of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours (or leading to death) with no other apparent cause than that of vascular origin
What is ischaemic stroke?
70% of all strokes, cerebral thrombosis from atherosclerotic disease (or distal embolism from cardioembolic disease)
What is haemorrhagic stroke?
Intracerebral haemorrhage (ruptured vessel in brain) or subarachnoid haemorrhage (ruptured intercranial aneurysm in subarachnoid space)
Symptoms of stroke
Face - drooping/can they smile
Arms (or legs) - weakness, can they raise both arms
Speech - is it clear
Time - to call 999
What other conditions can present similarly to a stroke?
Seizures, drug toxicity (e.g. overdose), brain tumour, migraine, spinal cord lesion (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
Stroke risk factors: non-modifiable
Age - risk doubles with every decade over 55
Gender - more common in men, more women die
Family History
Afro-caribbean ethnicity
Stroke risk factors: modifiable
Hypertension - antihypertensives reduce risk by 40%
Atrial Fibrillation - implicated in 15% of strokes. Anticoagulation reduces risk of stroke by 70%
Diabetes - 2-2.5x more likely to suffer stroke
Hyperlipidaemia - statins reduce risk
Smoking - doubles risk
Investigations for suspected stroke?
CT scan - ASAP
- haemorrhage clearly visible, ischaemic stroke harder to spot but hypodense zone
MRI scan - useful for investigating TIA
Other: BP, ECG, FBC, U&Es, blood glucose, inflammatory markers
What is a TIA?
Symptoms of stroke that resolve within 24 hours
Acute stroke treatment at presentation?
Transfer to hyperacute stroke unit ASAP. No acute treatment can be administered until CT results are back as treatments for the two types of stroke are v different
Acute treatment for ischaemic stroke?
Thrombolysis (alteplase) must be given within 4.5 hours of onset, twice as effective if given within 1.5h
Antiplatelet: 300mg aspirin asap (via PR or NG if necessary) and continue for 14 days
Antiplatelet therapy for patients who have been thrombolysed?
Wait 24 hours before giving any apsirin, and CT must be repeated to ensure no haemorrhagic transformation
Criteria for alteplase?
Inclusion:
- age over 18 years old (no upper age limit)
- Symptoms of acute stroke with a clear onset time
- Thrombolysis can be administered within 4.5 hours of symptom onset
- Haemorrhage excluded on neuro-imaging
Exclusion:
- Major surgery in last 14 days
- GI or urinary tract bleeding in last 21 days
- History of intracranial haemorrhage, Intra-cranial malignancy or intracranial AVM
- Symptoms suggestive of subarachnoid bleed (even if CT Head clear)
- BP greater than >185 systolic or >110 diastolic unresponsive to medical treatment (see page 6)
- INR >1.7
- Hyperglycaemia (>20) or Hypoglycaemia (<3)
- Stroke or head injury in last 3 months
- Use of anti-coagulation in last 24 hours
Acute treatment for haemorrhagic stroke?
- neurosurgical intervention sometimes necessary
- anticoagulants stopped and reversed if INR >1.4 (vitamin K and prothrombin complex)
Lipid lowering treatments for stroke?
Can be given for both types of stroke
Ischaemic: high intensity statin (20-80mg) as soon as patient can swallow safely
Haemorrhage: only if indicated according to CV risk, when patient can swallow safely
General acute treatments and measures?
- SALT assess ability to swallow, pharmacist advise on medication ROA (drug administration via feeding tubes)
Acute control of blood pressure in ischaemic stroke?
- fluctuating BP common after acute stroke
Ischaemia: - body detects it so pumps more blood to brain to try and oxygenate, hence hypertension. up to 185/110 is ok - only manage if hypertensive crisis. should be below this for thrombolysis so lower if eligible
Acute control of blood pressure in haemorrhagic stroke?
treat if higher than 150mmHg systolic, aim for 140mmHg for at least 7 days.
Suitable agents to acutely control blood pressure in stroke?
short acting anthypertensive infusion, e.g. nicardipine, labetalol, GTN
Why use short acting antihypertensive in acute management in stroke?
so they can be stopped quickly if needed
Secondary prevention of further stroke
Antiplatelet (or anticoagulant in embolic stroke) - aspirin/clopidogrel - ischaemic only
- control hypertension
- control blood glucose
Possible stroke complications?
- swallowing problems
- depression
- dry mouth/sialorrhoea
- seizures
- spasticity
Long term antiplatelet treatment for ischaemic stroke?
once 14 days of aspirin complete, clopidogrel (generally for life)
- aspirin + MR dipyridamole if clopidogrel not tolerated
- MR dipyridamole if aspirin and clopidogrel not tolerated
Long term anticoagulant treatment for stroke?
in embolic stroke/AF score more than 2
Direct-acting Oral Anticoagulant (apixaban, rivaroxaban etc) or warfarin
Long term antihypertensive treatment for stroke?
Reduce risk of stroke in both hypertensive and previously normotensive patients - follow NICE guidance
- BP less than 130mmHg systolic
Long term lipid lowering treatment for stroke?
Reduces risk of ischaemic stroke
Simvastatin 40mg, consider atorvastatin if target of <4mmol/L not met
- only used in haemorrhagic stroke if patients has hyperlipidaemia or CV risk needing treatment
Long term management of swallowing difficulties after stroke?
NG/PEG feeding may be required, puree diet, thickened fluids (all assessed by SALT)
- medication must be reviewed for appropriate formulation and administration (only crush tablets or open caps if safe and no alternative)
Management of dry mouth after stroke?
Artificial saliva, good oral hygiene
Management of sialorrhoea after stroke?
Oral glycopyrronium, atropine eye drops into mouth, hyoscine patch
Management of depression after stroke?
Screen all patients (30% will experience), treat as per NICE (SSRI first line)
Management of seizures after stroke?
- common problem, up to 67% late onset seizures post ischaemic stroke
- give prophylactic antiepileptic drugs if recurrent diagnosed at epilepsy