It is a disease that affects the blood vessels responsible for supplying blood to the brain. When the vessel is blocked by an embolism or thrombus, it is called an ischaemic stroke, and when the lesion is secondary to a rupture of the vessel, it is known as a haemorrhagic stroke.
There are factors that increase the risk of stroke: older age, family medical history, race or gender, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and heart diseases.
It manifests with headache, double vision, loss of vision in half of the visual field (hemianopia), altered sensation, altered speech, nausea, vertigo and unsteadiness of gait.
Diagnosis is clinical by questioning and physical examination. The study should be completed with a CT-scan.
Treatment for ischaemia should be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms to avoid sequelae, and is considered a medical emergency. Medications will be administered to break up the thrombus or clot that is obstructing the blood vessel. In selected cases, endovascular treatment may be used to clear the blocked vessel from the inside. Patients with haemorrhage have a worse prognosis and may require surgical intervention.
- Louis R Caplan, MD. Clinical diagnosis of stroke subtypes. UpToDate. Aug 02, 2016.
- Jamary Oliveira Filho, MD, MS, PhD. Owen B Samuels, MD. Reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke. UpToDate. Sep 28, 2016.
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- Louis R Caplan, MD. Overview of the evaluation of stroke. UpToDate. Apr 12, 2016.
- Lobato P, Morín MM, Garrido JA. Accidente Cerebrovascular Agudo en Urgencias. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010: 509-522.
