Vascular stroke Flashcards
What is the definition of a stroke?
Damage to the brain or spinal cord caused by an abnormality in the blood supply.
What are the 2 things that strokes are recognised by?
- Sudden onset of focal neurological symptoms over a few seconds or minutes that PERSIST for more than 24 hours.
- Symptoms and signs of a focal brain lesion (except subarachnoid haemorrhage)
How many people per year in NZ have a stroke?
8000
Does the incidence in stroke increase with age?
Yes.
What is the mean age of having your first stroke?
75
What % of strokes occur under the age of 65?
25%
Is stroke the third most common cause of death?
Yes. Also the most common cause of prolonged adult disability.
Are strokes contralateral?
No, they are unilateral (affect one side)
How many types of stroke are there? What are they?
3
- Ischaemic stroke (infarction)
- Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) - artery rupture
- Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH) - by aneurysm
What type of stroke is the most common?
Ischaemic stroke (80-85% of all strokes)
What happens during an ischaemic stroke?
Loss of blood flow to part of the brain or spinal cord, depriving the tissue of oxygen and glucose –> NECROSIS –> INFARCTION
How common is ICH?
Causes about 15% of all strokes.
What is ICH?
Bleeding into the brain itself, usually from small artery supplying the deep white matter and basal ganglia. Haematoma causess symptoms due to cutting off pathways and exerting pressure on surrounding tissue.
How common is SAH?
Least common. About less than 5% of all strokes. Usually younger patients with other types of stroke.
What happens in SAH?
Bleeding into the subarachnoid space around the brain and the spinal cord. Most people, usually caused by blood leakage -> aneurysm.
What are symptoms of SAH that make it different to other stroke types?
Extremely severe headache (usually at back of head) and sometimes abrupt loss of consciousness, neck stiffness due to irritation of the meninges.
What are the 3 main symptoms of ischaemic stroke?
Anterior circulation
Posterior circulation
Lacunar infarcts
Does Calcium moving into the cell compromise mitochondrial function?
Yes
Eventually, ischaemia leads to…..
irreversible cell damage.
Where is ischaemia most severe?
The core of the infarct.