Cerebrovascular Accident
A Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is the medical term for what is more commonly known as a stroke. A stroke can range from very mild to severe and even life threatening. When a stroke occurs, no matter how severe, it means there has been an episode of inadequate blood supply to a particular region of the brain. Having a stroke does not necessarily mean that other organs will be affected, however, there is that chance. For example, if the stroke occurs to the part of the brain that sends and receives signals to the phrenic nerve, the performance of the diaphragm can be greatly altered. If the vagal nerve is affected, the patient could experience a drastic drop in heart rate and blood pressure. There are two major
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Arm: If a person holds both arms out, does one drift downward? Speech: Is their speech abnormal or slurred? Time: It’s time to call 911 and get to the hospital if any of these symptoms are present” (Ellis, 2016). Upon admission to the hospital or doctor’s office, the physician should have several diagnostic tests performed to confirm or rule out a stroke and to see the extent of damage caused if there was, in fact, a stroke. The doctor should immediately order blood work in the interim while the patient is waiting to have more in-depth tests performed. The lab tests should include tests such as: blood glucose (Hypoglycemia may mimic stroke), electrolytes to access kidney function, complete blood count (CBC), cardiac markers, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (Jauch, et al., 2013). More blood work may be ordered if the patient has history of other chronic diseases or risk factors to other chronic diseases. In addition to the initial blood work, the physician may order more tests to further investigate the cause and extent of damage. These tests include but are not limited to: angiogram (dye added to blood followed by x-ray), vessel ultrasound (to check for abnormal blood flow to brain), computed tomography scan (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiogram, and electrocardiogram (EKG). Though, the MRI is more sensitive to abnormalities, the CT is still the most
. Define the term collateral blood flow, and describe how this and other factors affect the development of stroke.
Patient S is a seventy-eight-year-old male who presented to the ED in Rushville on October 25th with signs and symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms were leaning to the left side, a left facial droop, weakness in the left arm, and ataxia. The patient has no history of stroke. Patient S was admitted to 4-G in Memorial for a right-sided ischemic stroke. The patient has a history of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), hyperlipidemia, bleeding problems, hypertension, sleep apnea, and a pacemaker. Patient S lives at home with his wife. Patient S was independent before the stroke. On October 13th, the patient had surgery of lumbar stenosis on L3, L4, and L5. The patient and wife reported increased serosanguinous drainage that soaked the dressing. Patient denied fever or pain at incision site. The doctor decreased Warfarin from 5 milligrams (mg) to 2.5 mg and prescribed a full dose of aspirin.
Cerebrovascular Accident- condition in which brain tissue is deprived of blood supply. The most common stroke symptoms are:
Hemorrhagic stroke is, the less common types of CVA, nearly 13% is all stroke cases and is a result from bleeding into the brain tissue itself (Intracerebral and intraparenchymal hemorrhage) or into subarachnoid space or the ventricles (subarachnoid hemorrhage or intraventricular hemorrhage). This type of stroke is further subdivided into:
Strokes are caused by pathophysiological changes. The two major mechanisms of stroke consist of ischemia and haemorrhage. Ischemia is when there is no oxygen or not, merely enough oxygen to fuel the tissue level in the body. Haemorrhage in the brain, causing strokes can be due to non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage (Shah, MD, n.d.) (see appendix 1). This essay will further discuss the implications of strokes on a cellular, organ and system level. Explain the clinical presentation of the signs and symptoms of strokes and how the condition will be managed by a paramedic.
Stroke previously known as Cerebrovascular accident is well-defined as ‘an abrupt cessation of cerebral circulation in one or more of the blood vessels distributing the brain. Due to the interruption or diminish of oxygen supply causes serious damage or necrosis in the brain tissues (Jauch, Kissella & Stettler, 2005). There is a presence of one or more symptoms such as weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, difficulty speaking or swallowing, dizziness, loss of balance, loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes and headache. Stoke is categorised into two types, Ischaemic and haemorrhagic
A CVA occurs when a part of the brain is damaged or destroyed due to an interruption of blood flow to the area resulting in brain cell death (Martini, Nath & Bartholomew 2015 pp. 496-470).There are two main types of a CVA, Ischaemic stroke and Haemorrhagic stroke (AIHW 2013). The most common cause of stroke is ischaemic, which can be caused by embolism/thrombosis (AIHW 2013). An embolism/thrombosis occurs when there is a clot in an artery or vein, which stops blood flow to the brain (AIHW 2013). A haemorrhagic stroke is when an artery ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue (AIHW 2013). This form of stroke occurs when blood pools and forms a clot therefore putting pressure on the area of the brain depriving it of oxygen and nutrients it needs to remain healthy (AIHW 2013).
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, is an abrupt stoppage of the blood supply of the brain. There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke, a sudden blockage of arteries that lead to the brain, and hemorrhagic stroke, bursting of a blood vessel that leads to bleeding into the brain tissue (Panel et al.,1997). Due to the sudden onset that requires immediate medical care, it is often referred to as a brain attack. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. affecting 800,00 people each year (Panel et al.,1997). Tests that view the brain, such as CT scan and MRI scans, as well as test that views the blood vessel that supplies the brain, such as the carotid Doppler, are used to properly diagnose for a stroke.
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is the death of brain cells due to a lack of
The following are symptoms according to the American Red Cross Nursing Assistant text book the patient could experience: “Slurring of words, Drooping of the features on one side of the face (for example, the eyelid and the corner of the mouth), trouble seeing in one or both eyes, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, a sudden, severe headache, dizziness or loss of balance, confusion, or a loss of consciousness, a generally ill appearance, or abnormal behavior” (Page 91). Our text book in chapter 18 calls the weakness hemiparesis and the paralysis is called hemiplegia. These are experienced on one side of the body. F.A.S.T is a great way to check
Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke) [9] - Considering some of the primary causes of cerebrovascular accident [pg 104]; do you believe recreation therapy is more effective as a preventative approach, or in treatment of symptoms?
The topic assigned to me for the health paper is cerebrovascular disease, which is a stroke. Cerebrovascular is really two words combined. Cerebro is the largest part in the brain and vascular is termed as veins and arteries. From those two terms, one can interpret that this disease has to deal with the blood flow that goes on in the brain. According to the Association of Neurological surgeons, cerebrovascular disease is defined as the any disorder that is in the brain is either permanently or temporarily affected by bleeding and even by ischemia (AANS, 2005). It states, “ Cerebrovascular disease includes stroke, carotid stenosis, vertebral stenosis and intracranial stenosis, aneurysms, and vascular malformations” (AANS, 2005). When this
If there are any signs of a stroke, remember the acronym “FAST”. Face: does the face droop on one side when the person is asked to smile? Arms: Is the affected person able to lift their arms? And if so, does one or both drop downwards more than the other? Speech: When asked to repeat a phrase, is the speech able to be understood without any slurring, hesitation, or is the person unable to verbally respond at all? Time: Time is crucial to treatment of a stroke. If any or all of these signs are present, the person witnessing the event should call 911 immediately (Staff, Stroke, Symptoms and Causes, 2017).
A stroke is also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Strokes can be either ischemic or hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of a blood flow to the brain. It can be caused by a thrombosis or embolism. A thrombosis is a clot that disrupts the flow of blood to the brain. An embolism is a blood clot that forms in a different area of the circulatory system and travels through the bloodstream and blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are when a blood vessel bursts causing bleeding in the brain or in the area surrounding the brain. This can be caused by an aneurysm or an arteriovenous malformation. An aneurysm is a weakened area of a blood vessel that eventually is weakened so much that it bursts. An
Also balance disorder, fatigue, lightheadedness, or vertigo.Here are some more muscle weakness or numbness and numbness or weakness. difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or speech and pins and needles or reduced sensation of touch.Finally difficulty swallowing, headache, inability to understand, mental confusion, or rapid involuntary eye movement.