Stroke Flashcards
(84 cards)
What are the effects of a lesion in the anterior cerebral artery?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
What are the effects of a lesion in the middle cerebral artery?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
Also includes contralateral homonymous hemianopia and aphasia.
What are the effects of a lesion in the posterior cerebral artery?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing and visual agnosia.
What are the effects of Weber’s syndrome?
Ipsilateral CN III palsy and contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity.
What are the effects of a lesion in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery?
Ipsilateral facial pain and temperature loss; contralateral limb/torso pain and temperature loss; ataxia, nystagmus.
What are the effects of a lesion in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery?
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s, but include ipsilateral facial paralysis and deafness.
What is the effect of a retinal/ophthalmic artery lesion?
Amaurosis fugax.
What is the effect of a basilar artery lesion?
‘Locked-in’ syndrome.
What do lacunar strokes present with?
Isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss, or hemiparesis with limb ataxia.
Strong association with hypertension; common sites include the basal ganglia, thalamus, and internal capsule.
What is a stroke?
A stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA) is a sudden interruption in the vascular supply of the brain, leading to potential irreversible damage due to oxygen supply issues.
What are the two main types of strokes?
The two main types of strokes are ischaemic and haemorrhagic.
What is a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)?
A TIA is a subtype of ischaemic stroke characterized by sudden onset of focal neurological symptoms lasting typically less than an hour, often referred to as a ‘mini-stroke’.
What is the essential problem in ischaemic strokes?
‘Blockage’ in the blood vessel stops blood flow.
What is the essential problem in haemorrhagic strokes?
Blood vessel ‘bursts’, leading to a reduction in blood flow.
What are the proportions of ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes?
Ischaemic strokes account for 85% and haemorrhagic strokes account for 15%.
What are some risk factors for ischaemic strokes?
General risk factors include age, hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus.
What are some symptoms of a stroke?
Symptoms include motor weakness, speech problems (dysphasia), swallowing problems, visual field defects, and balance problems.
What is the Oxford Stroke Classification?
The Oxford Stroke Classification categorizes strokes based on initial symptoms, assessing criteria like unilateral hemiparesis and homonymous hemianopia.
What are the types of strokes in the Oxford Stroke Classification?
Types include Total Anterior Circulation Infarcts (TACI), Partial Anterior Circulation Infarcts (PACI), Lacunar Infarcts (LACI), and Posterior Circulation Infarcts (POCI).
What mnemonic is used to raise awareness of stroke symptoms?
The FAST campaign: Face, Arms, Speech, Time.
What investigations are needed for suspected strokes?
Emergency neuroimaging using CT or MRI is necessary to determine if thrombolytic therapy is suitable.
What is the management for ischaemic strokes?
If ischaemic, thrombolysis may be offered if criteria are met; aspirin 300mg should be given as soon as possible.
What is the management for transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs)?
Immediate antithrombotic therapy with aspirin 300 mg is recommended, and urgent assessment is needed for patients with recent TIAs.
What should be done if a haemorrhagic stroke is confirmed?
Neurosurgical consultation should be considered, and management is primarily supportive, with anticoagulants stopped to minimize further bleeding.