Stroke Flashcards

1
Q

What is a stroke?

A
  • cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) also known as strokes result from cerebral infarction and are the most common brain disorder in the general population
  • they occur when the flow of blood carrying essential oxygen to the brain is disrupted causing brain cells to die
  • strokes are divided into three categories
    —> ischaemic - from decreased blood flow as a result of vascular occlusion by embolism or atherosclerosis within an artery
    —> thrombotic - a venous event - blood clot forms in one of the arteries
    —> haemorrhagic - subarachnoid haemorrhage due to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain
  • CVA can vary in severity due to location and severity of damage - can range from mild strokes to severe brain damage or death
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2
Q

What are the risk factors?

A
  • hypertension (I, H)
  • hypercholesterolaemia (I)
  • heart disease (I)
  • previous transient ischaemic attacks (I)
  • diabetes (I)
  • smoking (I, T)
  • obesity (I)
  • operative delivery (T)
  • dehydration (T)
  • infection (T)
  • excessive alcohol intake (I)
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3
Q

What are some of the complications?

A
- icahaemia resulting from a CVA may be experienced as 
       —> dizziness 
       —> weakness 
       —> numbness 
       —> paralysis in a limb or a side of the body 
       —> headache 
       —> slurred speech
       —> partial loss of vision 
       —> nausea and vomiting
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4
Q

What are some of the issues in pregnancy?

A
  • warfarin embryopathy may occur with exposure of the fetus to warfarin from 6-12 wks (prev CVA)
  • risk factors identified and thromboprophylaxis commenced if necessary (at risk of CVA)
  • pregnancy does not appear to increase the incidence of SAH although the changes in pregnancy may result in the vasodilation of an already abnormal vessel and precipitate it
  • SAH is often associated with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
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