Stroke by: Katarina Batinjan Mentor: A. Ž mega č Horvat

CVA - medical emergency can cause permanent neurological damage, complications and death in the western world - second most common cause of death and disability

Risk factors for stroke include: advanced age hypertension * previous stroke diabetes high cholesterol cigarette smoking

Three types: thrombotic embolic ischemic hemorrhagic

Thrombotic stroke ischemic stroke caused by thrombosis a thrombus (blood clot) usually forms around atherosclerotic plaques causes occlusion of the vessel

Large vessel disease - atherosclerosis - inflammatory diseases (Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, vasculitis...) Small vessel disease - branches of the circle of Wilisi, middle cerebral artery...

What type of anemia can we associate with thrombotic stroke?

Sickle cell anemia

Diagnosis neurological examination

CT scans MRI scans Doppler ultrasound arteriography

Treatment removing blood clot from the vessel by breaking clot fast reaction → blood flow restored → smaller number of brain cells die

How can we break a clot?

thrombectomy - mechanical thrombolysis – using drugs

Epidemiology stroke could soon be the most common cause of death worldwide "stroke belt" in southeastern U S 95% of strokes occur in people age 45+, and two-thirds of strokes occur in the over-65 group

men 1.25 times more likely to suffer strokes than women previous stroke increases risk of future stroke

How can we prevent stroke?

Primary prevention - stop smoking, exercise...

Secondary prevention - anticoagulation drugs

References Medical English handout (Chabner)