Week 9 - Ischaemic Strokes Flashcards
What is the medical term for a stroke that occurs due to a blockage in an artery supplying the brain? And what % of strokes does this make up?
Ischemic stroke.
75%
What are immediate symptoms of a stroke?
Immediate symptoms of a stroke can include sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, difficulty seeing, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and a severe headache with no known cause.
What is the impact of a blocked artery in the brain immediately following the blockage?
The immediate impact includes ischemia leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients, which causes cells in the affected area of the brain to begin malfunctioning and potentially dying.
What happens in the brain in the short term after the initial inflammation from a stroke subsides?
After the initial inflammation subsides, the affected brain tissue may experience cell death, leading to permanent loss of functions controlled by that area, unless blood flow is promptly restored.
What is neuroplasticity, and how does it relate to recovery after a stroke?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. After a stroke, neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt and potentially regain functions lost due to the damage caused by the stroke, especially with the help of targeted therapies.
What could be the long-term effects if a stroke victim does not receive appropriate therapy?
Without appropriate therapy, the brain may not effectively reorganize itself, potentially resulting in permanent deficits in functions such as speech, movement, and sensory processing, depending on the area of the brain affected.
What are common treatments for ischemic stroke aimed at minimizing brain damage?
Common treatments for ischemic stroke include medications like thrombolytics to dissolve the clot and mechanical thrombectomy to physically remove the clot, particularly if administered within a few hours of the onset of symptoms.
What type of injury is a stroke called? Also head injury?
Stroke = ABI
Head injury = TBI
How does vascular dementia occur?
Chronic ischaemia with lots of blockages within the brain that cause TIA’s
TIA stand for
Transient Ischaemic Attack - “mini-stroke” that only lasts for a few minutes
Which cerebral arteries are most likely to develop a clot?
Anterior and middle cerebral arteries due being connected to the Internal Carotid which is a common site for atherosclerosis.
Common artery a thrombus from the heart will travel?
Left internal carotid as it’s the easiest pathway direct from the heart.
What is a thrombotic stroke?
A thrombotic stroke occurs within the brain.
What is an embolic stroke?
An embolic stroke happens when a blood clot forms away from the brain, commonly in the heart. It is carried through blood to the brain arteries.
What is a lacunar stroke?
Deep arteries in brain become blocked.
