Stroke & Intracranial Hemorrhage

• Stroke (CVA or "brain attack") is a sudden interruption in blood flow to the brain that results in neurological deficit.

  • Survivors are often left severely debilitated
• Modifiable risk factors:

  • High blood pressure
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Transient ischemic attacks
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Hypercoagulopathy
  • High RBC count & sickle cell anemia
  • Carotid bruit
• Non-Modifiable risk factors:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Prior stroke
  • Heredity
• Brain supplied by: (connected by circle of Willis)

  • 2 carotid arteries: supplies cerebral blood flow
  • 2 vertebral arteries:
  • Combine to form a basilar artery
  • Supply remaining 20% of cerebral blood flow
• Cerebral blood flow is maintained through autoregulation of cerebral vessels that constrict or dilate to preserve perfusion pressure

  • Perfusion also maintained at the arteriolar lvl by the level of O2 & glucose supplied
  • Sudden stop of circulation that happens bc of an occlusion or hemorrhage cannot be corrected by the autoregulatory mechanisms