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Cerebrovascular Accident
Cerebrovascular Accident
CVA
• Y 65 yrs old man was admitted to the hospital at 14/10/20 and presented with acute unilateral left-hand weakness
for 14hrs associated with slurred speech, dysphagia, incontinence of the urine and altered mental status.
• PSHx: none
• Hb: 17mg/dl
• Creatinine: 0.9mg/dl
• Cholesterol: 158mg/dl
• The secondary parenchymal changes in the brain resulting from the vascular
lesion could be ischemia, with or without infarction, and hemorrhage.
• varicella zoster infection has been identified as a risk factor for ischemic and
hemorrhagic strokes and TIA (increases risk by 30%).
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK
• The latest guideline on TIA from the American Stroke Association has
removed all references to duration of symptoms.
RISK STRATIFICATION OF TIA, ABCD2 SCORE:
• Patients with TIA should have imaging within 24 hours or ASAP after their
symptoms to determine if any infarction is present. Also order CT or MR
angiography of intracranial and neck vessels, echo, and blood work:
chemistries, BS, lipids, CBC. Order an ECG to rule out atrial fibrillation
(AF).
CLASSIFICATION OF STROKES
Risk factors:
• Smoking
• HTN
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol level
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Clinical features: Weakness, aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dystonia, personality
changes, urinary incontinence, N/V,……………
CLINICAL FEATURES
CLINICAL FEATURES
CLINICAL FEATURES
ASSESSMENT
• Vital sign: Hypertension, fever (may worsen brain ischemia), breathing (may
be increased in hemorrhage).
• The main advantages of CT are widespread access (not in Africa) and speed of
acquisition. CT is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of hemorrhage in the acute setting.
• MRI is more sensitive than CT for the early diagnosis of brain infarction
• In patients with ischemia who do not yet have brain infarction, both CT and MRI may be
normal.
• The history, physical examination, serum glucose, oxygen saturation, and a non-
contrast CT scan are sufficient in most cases to guide acute therapy.
• Other tests are considered based upon individual patient characteristics, but the
absence or unavailability of any additional tests need not be a reason to delay
therapy if otherwise indicated.
MANAGEMENT
• Ensuring medical stability, with particular attention to airway, breathing, and circulation
• Quickly reversing any conditions that are contributing to the patient's problem
• Hyperglycemia: is common in patients with acute stroke and is associated with poor
functional outcome.
• Hyperglycemia may augment brain injury by several mechanisms including increased
tissue acidosis from anaerobic metabolism, free radical generation, and increased blood
brain barrier permeability.
• The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines for acute
ischemic stroke recommend treatment for hyperglycemia to achieve serum glucose
concentrations in the range of 140 to 180 mg/dL
MANAGEMENT
• Head and Body position: keeping the head in neutral alignment with the body
and elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees for patients in the acute phase of
stroke.
• Fever: May contribute to brain injury in patients with an acute stroke. The source
of fever should be investigated and treated, and antipyretics should be used to
lower temperature in febrile patients with acute stroke. The favorable range is ≤
37Ċ
MANAGEMENT
• The choice of the control of BP in the acute phase is; labetalol, nicardipine and
clevidipine
ISCHEMIC STROKE MANAGEMENT
For eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke, intravenous alteplase is first-line therapy,
provided that treatment is initiated within 4.5 hours of clearly defined symptom onset.
Because the benefit of alteplase is time dependent, it is critical to treat patients as quickly
as possible.
Mechanical thrombectomy is indicated for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to a
large artery occlusion in the anterior circulation who can be treated within 24 hours of the
time last known to be well
ISCHEMIC STROKE MANAGEMENT
• Statin therap: There is clear evidence that long-term intensive statin therapy is associated
with a reduced risk of recurrent ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events.
• SSRIs: There is some evidence from small randomized controlled trials suggesting that early
initiation of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) after ischemic stroke for patients
with hemiparesis but without depression enhances motor recovery and reduces dependency.
• Prevention of bedsore, physiotherapy and psychological support is important.
• Behavioral and lifestyle changes: including smoking cessation, exercise, weight reduction
for obese patients, and a Mediterranean style diet
I’M DONE