Week 11 - Stroke Flashcards
Basilar artery
supplies the cerebellum and the brain stem
What is a major cause of ischemic stroke?
atherosclerosis
what is the single most important modifiable risk factor for a stroke?
hypertension
A TIA is usually a?
precursor for an ischemic stroke
With TIA there is?
no infarction or cell death
Intracerebral hemmorhage?
bleeding within the brain caused by a rupture of a vessel
what is a main symptom of a hemorrhagic stroke?
severe headache
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Occurs when there is intracranial bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)- filled space between the arachnoid and the pia mater membranes on the surface of the brain
What is a common cause of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
a ruptured cerebral aneurysm
What are the most obvious effects of a stroke?
motor deficits
A left-brain stroke is more likely to result in
memory problems related to language (receptive aphasia)
A right-brain stroke is more likely to result in
a patient who’s impulsive and tends to move quickly (high fall risk)
Aphasia
total loss of comprehension and use of language or total inability to communicate
Dysphasia
impaired ability to communicate
dysarthria
a disturbance in the muscular control of speech
what is the single most important neuroimaging tool for a stroke patient?
CT scan or MRI
what is the most important point in the stroke patient’s history?
time of onset
elevated BP immediately after stroke may be?
a protective response to maintain cerebral perfusion and is normal.
what is the only treatment indicated for acute ischemic stroke?
TPA
Primary nursing assessment of stroke is focused on?
cardiac and respiratory status and neurological assessment
Secondary assessment of stroke patient
should include a comprehensive neurological exam
impaired consciousness or dysphagia may cause?
aspiration pneumonia
