Stroke + Differentials Flashcards
What % of strokes are ischaemic and what % are haemorrhagic?
85% ischaemic
15% haemorrhagic
What anatomical factors cause intracerebral haemorrhage?
1) Small vessel disease
2) Amyloid angiopathy
3) AVMs
What haemodynamic factor causes intracerebral haemorrhage?
Hypertension
What haemostatic factors cause intracerebral haemorrhage?
1) Anticoagulants
2) Anti-platelets
3) Thrombolytics
What other factors cause intracerebral haemorrhage?
1) Recreational drugs
2) Vasculitis
Describe amyloid angiopathy related haemorrhage
- Amyloid deposition in cortical artery muscle layers
- Typically causes local intracerebral haemorrhage or ICH at grey/white matter border
- Prone to recurrence
What are 8 causes of ischaemic stroke?
1) Intracranial atherosclerosis
2) Penetrating artery disease
3) Carotid plaque with arteriogenic emboli
4) Flow reducing carotid stenosis
5) Cardiogenic emboli
6) AF
7) Valve disease
8) Left ventricular thrombi
What are 4 major risk factors for ischaemic stroke?
1) Hypertension
2) Smoking
3) Diabetes
4) Hyperlipidaemia
What does a stroke examination consist of?
1) GCS
2) Temperature
3) Pulse (fibrillation)
4) BP
5) Heart sounds → murmurs, septal defects
6) Carotid bruits
7) Evidence of aspiration
8) Neurological deficit → visual, speech, facial, motor, sensory
What investigations do you need to do on someone with a stroke?
1) ECG
2) Blood tests → haemoglobin, platelets, clotting, biochemistry
In what timeframe do all patients need a brain scan?
< 1hr
Which patients need a brain scan urgently?
1) Unconscious
2) Deteriorating conscious level
3) On anticoagulants
4) Presentation within thrombolysis window of opportunity
What area is a key collateral circulation?
Circle of Willis
What are the 3 vascular territories of the cerebral hemisphere?
Anterior, middle and posterior cerebral
What are the signs of a lesion in the ACA?
1) Contralateral hemiparesis → leg more than arm/face
2) Cortical signs → emotional changes, dysphagia (left ACA)
What are the signs of a lesion in the MCA?
1) Contralateral hemiparesis → arm/face more than leg
2) Contralateral hemisensory loss
3) Cortical signs → contralateral heminopia, contralateral hemineglect, dysphagia (left MCA)
What are the signs of a lesion in the posterior cerebral artery?
1) Contralateral heminopia
2) Contralateral hemineglect
What are the signs of a lesion in the vertebrobasilar territory?
1) Nausea and vomiting
2) Diplopia
3) Vertigo and nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
4) Ataxia
5) Hemi/quadriplegia
6) Visual field defect
7) Coma
What are the signs of a lacunar stroke (small vessel)?
1) Pure hemiparesis
2) Pure hemisensory loss
3) Sensorimotor stroke
4) Ataxic hemiparesis
NO CORTICAL FEATURES
What are the 3 steps to diagnosing the type of stroke?
1) Anatomy → Where is the lesion? Which side? Which territory?
2) Pathology → What is the lesion - infarct or haemorrhage?
3) Aetiology → Why has it occurred? e.g. large artery/small vessel disease, PMG, FH, SH, risk factors
What is a TIA?
An acute loss of focal cerebral or monocular function
How long do symptoms of a TIA last?
< 24h