Stroke Presentation and Investigation Flashcards
What is a stroke
Neurological deficit (‘loss of function’)
of sudden onset,
Lasting more than 24 hours,
Of vascular origin
Transient Ischaemic Attack< 24 hours
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Loss of power
Loss of sensation
Loss of speech – loss of comprehension or loss of ability
Loss of vision
Loss of coordination
What are the essential things to ask about when taking a history?
Time of onset
Witnesses
Headache, vomiting, neck stifness, photophobia
Loss of consciousness
Fit
Incontinence
What is the neurological history likely to be?
Motor (clumbsy or weak limb)
Sensory (loss of feeling)
Speech (dysarthia/Dysphasia
Neglect / visospatial problems
Vision: Loss in one eye or hemianopia
Gaze palsy
What are the causes of stroke?
- Blockage of a vessel with thrombus or clot(85% infarction)
- Disease of vessel wall
- Disturbance of normal properties of blood
- Rupture of vessel wall–(15% haemorrhage)
Look at the different arteries
What part of the brain does the carotid system supply?
The carotid system supplies most of the hemispheres and cortical deep white matter
What does the vertebro-basilar system supply?
Brainstem
Cerebellum and occipital lobes
What is the motor cortex responsible for?
Movement
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Judgement, foresight and voluntary movement.
Smell
What is Broca’s arch responsible for?
Speech
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Intellectual and emotional functions
What is the brainstem responsible for?
Swallowing, breathing, heartbeat, wakefulness centre and other involuntray functions
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
coordination
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
SPeech comprehension
What is the occipital responsible for?
Primary visual area