Stroke

Flashcards

A lecture recorded live at Imperial College. Rashmi does a great job of making stroke super-easy!

atherosclerosis TIA dysphasia thrombolysis
 

Lecture by

Video Duration: 23 minutes

  • Stroke
    Created by katiemcfadden
    General
    Epidemiology

    stroke is a major cause of death wordlwide and can be defined as; a sudden onset of neurological deficit due to cerebrovascular insult persisting for more than 24hrs.

    Pathology

    2 types of stroke:

    1. Ischaemic stroke: lack of blood flow to area of the brain leading to cell death
    2. Heamorrhagic stroke: bleeding from blood vessel within the brain.
    Top three causes
    1. atherosclerosis causing thrombus
    2. arterial embolism
    3. cerebral hypoperfusion-


    Clinical Features
    Symptoms

    specific:

    1. sudden onset

    general:

    • weakness
    • loss of vision
    • dysarthria
    • dysphagia
    • sensory deficit
    Signs
    • upper motor neuron signs
    • cranial nerves may be affected
    • should affect both upper and lower limbs

    general:

    • irregularly irregular pulse of AF present
    • bruits if carotids stenosis
    Investigations
    Cultures

    None
    Bloods
    • FBC
    • LFTs
    • Renal Funtion (CK, creatinine, urea...)
    • Clotting factors
    Imaging

    if patient presents under 3 hrs of onset send for urgent CT

    Scopic/Biopsy

    None
    Functional
    • ECG
    • carotid doppler
    • CXR
    Treatment
    Conservative

    stabilisation and resuscitation if necessary


    Medical

    if under 3hrs consider thrombolysis

    antiplatelets e.g aspirin and Statins

    Surgical

    None