stroke management Flashcards
what age group does majority of stroke occur in?
over 65
after six months what things can still be challenging for a person who had stroke?
cannot walk indoors
need help to dress
need to be fed
need help with toileting
common symtpoms of stroke?
Right side of mouth drooping, drooling saliva
Able to raise left arm, but not right arm or active right leg
Difficulty communicating and finding words: expressive dysphasia
Right homonymous hemianopia (visual field defect)
why is scan essential before treating stroke patient?
exclude haemorrhage so thrombolysis can be given
what is given if swallowing is seen to be unsafe?
NG tube
what weakness is caused by stroke?
Contralateral weakness of limbs –>Extent of stroke determines degree of arm and leg weakness
Weakness and incoordination of oropharyngeal muscles:
Dysarthria: slurred, indistinct speech
Incoordination of swallowing
what are the language problems involved in speach? In right handed patients
If Broca’s areas damage then –> Flow of speech: stilted, difficult + Expressive dysphasia.
Reading, writing and comprehension relatively intact
If Wernicke’s area damaged then –> speech is fluent but Neologisms (“made up” words)
Comprehension, reading and writing impaired
Antihypertensive treatment is not recommended after acute stroke, unless?
Intracerebral haemorrhage with systolic BP >200,
Hypertensive encephalopathy/ nephropathy/ cardiomyopathy
Aortic dissection
Eclampsia/ pre-eclampsia (a condition of pregnancy:
what is hypertensive nephropathy?
the high blood pressure damages the kidney
what is hypertensive cardiomyopathy?
damage to the heart due to high blood pressure
when is oxygenation recommended?
Supplemental oxygen is recommended if saturations fall below 95% on air
what is system used to help set goals for rehabilitation after a stroke?
SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-limited
Set within 5 days of admission, review regularly
what is the assessment for swallowing?
Position patient correctly, ensure they are alert 1) Give a single teaspoon of water 2) Give 2 further teaspoons of water 3) 50ml water SAFE SWALLOW Allow normal diet and fluids
what actions will make the patient fail the swallowing assessment and what will be the outcome?
Drooling from mouth?
Coughing or choking?
Wet voice or cough?
UNSAFE SWALLOW –>Keep Nil By Mouth +Feed by NG tube
why is DVT caused in hospital, how can it be prevented and treatment?
Risk factors include immobility and sepsis ( Stasis of blood in leg veins leads to thrombosis)
Prevention: Consider injections of low molecular weight heparin
Treatment: warfarin for 6 months
what is the risk factors of pressure ulcers and how is it caused?
Risk factors
Immobility, malnutrition, diabetes, smoking, terminal illness, sensory impairment
Pathogenesis
Sustained pressure, often over bony prominence
Friction and shear forces when moving patient
Moisture: incontinence, sweating