MANECLANG, Wenn Joyrenz U. Geralynne G.

Medrana, MAN, RN
4NUR-6, RLE 3 August 22, 2018

Pathophysiology
Diagnosis: Acute Cerebral Infarction Left Middle Cerebral Artery territory probably Atherothrombotic in
origin
PREDISPOSING RISK PRECIPIATING RISK
FACTORS FACTORS

 Increasing Age: 55 &  (+) Hypertension

above (Pt: 84 y/o)  Smoking
 Gender: Men  Excessive alcohol intake
 Family Hx:
Hypertension (father
side)
 Prior stroke

Normally, blood is supplied to the brain by 2 major arteries:

\\
internal carotid & vertebral arteries

The internal carotid artery The vertebral arteries join t

branch into middle cerebral form the basilar artery which
artery and anterior cerebral branches to supply the middle
artery to supply most of the and lower parts of the temporal
frontal, parietal, and temporal lobe, occipital lobe, cerebellum,
lobes; basal ganglia and part of brainstem and part of the
the diencephalon diencephalon

Cerebral infarction most commonly occurs in the middle

cerebral artery

Acute middle cerebral

infarction occurs from a
sudden decreased or
disrupted blood flow on
the middle cerebral
artery
This may be due to a local damage to Atherosclerosis begins with
a vessel wall from atherosclerosis endothelial injury or inflammation
leading to plaque formation

Plaque then becomes thick & fibrous

The sclerotic material then partially occludes the lumen of

the vessel causing platelets to adhere and release factors to
initiate coagulation-clotting factors This results in the formation of a
clot or thrombus

Ss & Sx: facial asymmetry, facial

weakness ,right sided weakness
(hemiplegia), slurring of speech, Occlusion at the left middle cerebral artery results in
difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of problems associated mostly with the right side of the body
balance or coordination, confusion,
sudden severe headache