Strokes syndrome

Question 1

What is a stroke?

Answer 1

An acute (rapid onset) focal injury of the central nervous system
due to a vascular cause, including cerebral infarction and
intracerebral haemorrhage.

Question 2

What is included as a stroke?

Answer 2

Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Cerebral venous infarction
Spinal stroke

Question 3

What are stroke syndromes?

Answer 3

• Total anterior circulation syndrome (TACS)
• Partial anterior circulation syndrome (PACS)
• Lacunar syndrome (LACS)
• Posterior circulation syndrome (POCS)

Question 4

What are causes of ischaemic stroke?

Answer 4

Large artery atherosclerosis
• Small artery occlusion
• Cardio-embolism
• Arterial dissection
• Other, less common causes
e.g. vasculitis, anti-phospholipid syndrome

Question 5

What are conventional risk factors of small artery occlusion?

Answer 5

Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Hypercholesterolaemia
Inherited (genetic) causes
• CADASIL
• Collagen Type IV
mutations

Question 6

What are managments of stroke?

Answer 6

Confirm diagnosis:
• History and clinical examination (brief, focussed); Brain imaging
• Minimise brain damage: Hyperacute management
• Stroke unit care:
• Avoid/manage complications
• Start rehabilitation
• Identify cause of stroke
• Initiate secondary prevention
• Support rehabilitation, recovery and “re-integration”
• Early Supported Discharge; Emotional and peer support

Question 7

How to treat ischaemic stroke?

Answer 7

Repurfisions