Pontine stroke

Stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a disease that affects the blood vessels responsible for supplying blood to the brain. When there is an obstruction of a blood vessel, it is known as an ischemic stroke, whereas when there is bleeding, it is known as a hemorrhagic stroke. A pontine stroke is a stroke that affects the pons portion of the brain stem, which connects the spinal cord to the rest of the brain. The most common causes are atherosclerosis, embolism and dissection. Hypertension, smoking and diabetes, etc. are contributing factors. Typical symptoms include loss of strength on one side of the body, unstable gait, double vision and difficulty performing eye movements in the horizontal plane, etc. Clinical diagnosis is confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Treatment must be administered in a stroke unit or in intensive care and should be started early in an attempt to dislodge any artery blockage that may be found.