Strokes Flashcards
What is a stroke?
This is an interruption to the blood supply of the brain either through a thrombus clot or a hemorrhagic bleed in the brain.
This deprives the brain of oxygen, therefore causing cell death
What are the initial symptoms of a stroke?
B - Balance
E - Eyes - vision
F - Faces - droopiness
A - Arms - sudden weakness
S - Speech - slurred etc
T - Time to call 999
What common effect or symptom characterises a stroke from other ABI?
One - sided muscle weakness
What are the two types of strokes?
Ischaemic
Hemorrhagic
What is an ischaemic stroke?
An ischaemic stroke is characterised by an interruption of blood flow to the brain due to vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis or a thrombus clot
This reduce the amount of blood reaching the brain and therefore, oxygen reaching cerebral tissue
Where are these clots likely to form?
Cerebral arteries that run in the subarachnoid space, will have small branches that extend at sharp angles to supply blood to various parts of the brain.
It is in these sharp junctions that atherosclerosis plaque is likely
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
A Hemorrhagic stroke is characterised by a bleed in a cerebral artery or within the subarachnoid space.
Blood leaking will press on adjacent tissue, causing inflammation and clotting, reducing blood flow to the brain.
What is a stroke called when it takes place in the subarachnoid space?
An subdural hemorrhage possibly due to a ruptured blood vessel.
How may an aneurism contribute to a hemorrhagic stroke?
A hemorrhagic stroke may be caused by an aneurism which causes a blood vessel to rupture
Name a some nursing considerations
Positioning a patient upright and at 30 degrees to prevent aspiration due to an increased risk of dysphagia
Screening for swallowing within 4 hours
GSC upon assessment
ADLs
Blood glucose monitoring
Blood pressure monitoring
What is the name of the position where someone is at 30-45 degrees
Fowler’s position
What is a common treatment for an ischaemic stroke?
Fibrinolytic drugs to dissolve the thrombus clot
A catheter based procedure
What is a common treatment for a Hemorrhagic stroke?
catheter based approaches packing the aneurysm with endovascular coils or surgical approaches to clip the aneurism.
The endovascular coiling is the preferred approach if it is possible to navigate the vasculature.
What is another name for blood clots?
Haematoma
What does pneumbra mean?
An area that is likely to be affected by a stroke
