Stroke/TIA Flashcards
Describe the kind of strokes and their prevalence
- Ischemic (87%)- from thrombosis, emboli hypoperfusion
2. Hemorrhagic (13%) from intracranial hemorrhage or SAH (MC younger populations)
What are modifiable risk factors for stroke?
- Hypertension: most important modifiable risk factor
- Cardiovascular disease - congestive heart failure, previous MI, aortic valve disease and atrial fibrillation.
- Cigarette smoking: inc. risk of 2-3 times
- Carotid Artery Disease: can limit blood flow to the brain, act as a potential source for cerebral emboli
- Diabetes: doubles stroke risk
- Dyslipidemia: high LDL, low HDL
- Obesity: can double risk of ischemic stroke
- Lack of Exercise and Physical Activity
- Use of Birth Control and Hormone Therapy: birth control pills (esp. if they smoke and are over the age of 35)
What are non-modifiable risk factors for stroke?
- Family History: stroke or CAD
- Age: risk doubles every 10 yrs after age 55
- Gender: <55 (men more likely to have stroke); >55 risk same for males and females
- History of Prior Stroke, TIA or Heart Attack
- Race: African Americans - higher incidence and risk of death from stroke; Asian Americans – high risk of hemorrhagic stroke
S/S of stroke (focal Sx)
- Sudden onset
- max. severity at or w/in minutes of onset
- Sensory sx: altered feeling, vision loss on 1 side, bilateral blindness, double vision, vertigo
- Loss of focal cerberal fxn (neg. sx/loss of fxn)
- Speech disturbance: understanding, expressing, reading, writing, slurred, calculations
- Motor sx: weakness, clumsiness on 1 side, difficulty swallowing*, ataxia
- Consciousness is normal or only slightly impaired
*evolution of new neuro sx or reduced LOC is uncommon w/in first few hours
What quick screening guide should you educate pts and pts familys on for stroke signs
FAST Facial droop Arm weakness Slurred speech Time is critical--> call 911
*80% sensitive and specific
Compare and contrast the def. of TIA and CVA
TIA: neurodysfunction caused by focal brain ischemia
- s/s last <1hr
- NO evidence of ischemia on imaging
CVA: neurodysfunction caused by cerebrovascular dz
-s/s last >24 hrs or until death
Non-focal Sx (NOT likely to be TIA/CVA)
- Generalized weakness or numbness BILATERALLY
- faintness or syncope
- Incontinence
- Isolated sx
- Vertigo or loss of balance
- Double vision
- Slurred speech or difficulty walking
- Confusion/disorientation
- Impaired attention/concentration
- Diminution of all mental activity
Isolated language or visual-spatial perception problems (may be ___)
Isolated memory problems (may be ____)
TIA
transient global amnesia
Identify and differentiate between the differential diagnosis for CVA
- Hypoglycemia
- Migraine with aura (positive symptoms)
- Partial/focal seizure (positive symptoms)
- Transient global amnesia (no other sx/findings)
- Intracranial lesion (mass, AVM)
- Multiple sclerosis (signs more pronounced than symptoms)
- Labyrinthine disorders
- Peripheral nerve lesions (often painful)
- Subdural Hematoma
- Metabolic Disturbance (hypoxia, drug overdose)
- TIA (negative symptoms)
Stroke Symptoms vary depending on which ____ the ischemia or hemorrhage occur
region and side of the brain
If you suspect stroke by symptoms or physical exam, emergent imaging by ___ is essential for diagnosis and treatment.
CT or MRI
Note: ___ is the most important predictor of non-stroke pathology
reduced conscious level
- Stroke rarely causes reduction of conscious level in the first few hours
- Reduced consciousness in ischemic stroke occurs 2-5 days after onset (large infarcts due to brain swelling)
TIAs have a high risk of leading to stroke (esp w/in ___) – use __, __, and __ to assist with disposition (admit v. send home)
first 48 hrs
- clinical features,
- imaging to eliminate other causes, and
- ABCD2 score
A 73-year-old man presents with his son, who reports that the patient had a brief episode (around 30 minutes) of difficulty speaking and weakness in his right arm earlier today. The patient reports that he feels fine now and would like to go home.
TIA
-brief episode <1hr
Describe the ABCDD assessement for CVA risk after TIA
-Age [A]: >60 (1 pt)
-Blood pressure [B]: >140/90 (1 pt)
-Clinical features [C]
•Unilateral weakness (2 pts)
•Dysphasia w/out weakness (1 pt)
-Duration of symptoms [D]
•>60 min (2 pts)
•10-59 min (1 pt)
-Diabetes [D]: 1 pt
0-3= low risk: 1% in 48hrs 4-5= med risk 4% in 48hrs 6-7= high risk 8% in 48hrs