2. Cerebrovascular Accident
īļ Results from ischemia to a part of the brain or
hemorrhage into the brain that results in death of brain
cells.
īļ Approximately 750,000 in USA annually
īļ Third most common cause of death
īļ #1 leading cause of disability
īļ 25% with initial stroke die within 1 year
īļ 50-75% will be functionally independent
īļ 25% will live with permanent disability
īļ Physical, cognitive, emotional, & financial impact
3. Cerebrovascular Accident
Risk Factors
īļ Nonmodifiable:
īļ Age â Occurrence doubles each decade >55 years
īļ Gender â Equal for men & women; women die more frequently
than men
īļ Race â African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian
Americans -- higher incidence
īļ Heredity â family history, prior transient ischemic attack, or prior
stroke increases risk
4. Cerebrovascular Accident
Risk Factors
Controllable Risks with Medical Treatment &
Lifestyle Changes:
High blood pressure Diabetes
Cigarette smoking TIA (Aspirin)
High blood cholesterol Obesity
Heart Disease Atrial fibrillation
Oral contraceptive use Physical inactivity
Sickle cell disease Asymptomatic carotid stenosis
Hypercoagulability
6. Cerebrovascular Accident
Anatomy of Cerebral Circulation
īļ Blood Supply
īļ Anterior: Carotid Arteries â middle & anterior
cerebral arteries
īļ frontal, parietal, temporal lobes; basal ganglion; part of the
diencephalon (thalamus & hypothalamus)
īļ Posterior: Vertebral Arteries â basilar artery
īļ Mid and lower temporary & occipital lobes, cerebellum,
brainstem, & part of the diencephalon
īļ Circle of Willis â connects the anterior & posterior cerebral
circulation
7. Cerebrovascular Accident
Anatomy of Cerebral Circulation
īļ Blood Supply
īļ 20% of cardiac outputâ750-1000ml/min
īļ >30 second interruptionâ neurologic
metabolism is altered; metabolism stops in 2
minutes; brain cell death < 5 mins.
8.
9. Cerebrovascular Accident
Pathophysiology
īļ Atherosclerosis: major cause of CVA
īļ Thrombus formation & emboli development
īļ Abnormal filtration of lipids in the intimal layer of the arterial
wall
īļ Plaque develops & locations of increased turbulence of blood -
bifurcations
īļ Increased turbulence of blood or a tortuous area
īļ Calcified plaques rupture or fissure
īļ Platelets & fibrin adhere to the plaque
īļ Narrowing or blockage of an artery by thrombus or emboli
īļ Cerebral Infarction: blocked artery with blood supply cut
off beyond the blockage
10. Cerebrovascular Accident
Pathophysiology
īļ Ischemic Cascade
īļ Series of metabolic events
īļ Inadequate ATP adenosine triphosphate production
īļ Loss of ion homeostasis
īļ Release of excitatory amino acids â glutamate
īļ Free radical formation
īļ Cell death
īļ Border Zone: reversible area that surrounds the core
ischemic area in which there is reduced blood flow but
which can be restored (3 hours +/-)
11. CVA?
īŽ Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on
one side of the body.
īŽ Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
īŽ Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
īŽ Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or
coordination
īŽ Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
12. Cerebrovascular Accident
Transient Ischemic Attack
īļ Temporary focal loss of neurologic function
īļ Caused by ischemia of one of the vascular territories of
the brain
īļ Microemboli with temporary blockage of blood flow
īļ Lasts less than 24 hrs â often less than 15 mins
īļ Most resolve within 3 hours
īļ Warning sign of progressive cerebrovascular disease
13. Cerebrovascular Accident
Transient Ischemic Attack
īļ Diagnosis:
īļ CT without contrast
īļ Confirm that TIA is not related to brain lesions
īļ Cardiac Evaluation
īļ Rule out cardiac mural thrombi
īļ Treatment:
īļ Medications that prevent platelet aggregation
īļ ASA, Plavix
īļ Oral anticoagulants
16. Cerebrovascular Accident
Classifications
īļ Ischemic Strokeâinadequate blood flow to the brain from partial
or complete occlusions of an artery--85% of all strokes
īŽ Extent of a stroke depends on:
īŽ Rapidity of onset
īŽ Size of the lesion
īŽ Presence of collateral circulation
īŽ Symptoms may progress in the first 72 hours as infarction &
cerebral edema increase
īļ Types of Ischemic Stroke:
Thrombotic Stroke Embolic Stroke
18. Cerebrovascular Accident
Ischemic â Thrombotic Stroke
īļ Lumen of the blood vessels narrow â then
becomes occluded â infarction
īļ Associated with HTN and Diabetes Mellitus
īļ >60% of strokes
īļ 50% are preceded by TIA
īļ Lacunar Stroke: development of cavity in place of
infarcted brain tissue â results in considerable
deficits â motor hemiplegia, contralateral loss of
sensation or motor ability
25. Cerebrovascular Accident
Ischemic â Embolic Stroke
īļ Embolus lodges in and occludes a cerebral artery
īļ Results in infarction & cerebral edema of the area
supplied by the vessel
īļ Second most common cause of stroke â 24%
īļ Emboli originate in endocardial layer of the heart â atrial
fibrillation, MI, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart
disease, valvular prostheses
īļ Rapid occurrence with severe symptoms â body does not
have time to develop collateral circulation
īļ Any age group
īļ Recurrence common if underlying cause not treated
27. Cerebrovascular Accident
Goals for Management
īŽ Immediate â assess & stabilize
īŽ ABCs, VS
īŽ Neurologic screening
īŽ Oxygen if hypoxic
īŽ IV access
īŽ Check glucose
īŽ Activate stroke team â CODE GREEN
īŽ 12-lead EKG
īŽ Immediate Neuro Assessment
īŽ Establish symptom onset
īŽ Review hx
īŽ Stroke Scale
īŽ Facial droop; arm drift; abnormal speech
28. Cerebrovascular Accident
Goals for Management
īŽ CT Scan â No hemorrhage:
īŽ Consider Fibrinolytic therapy
īŽ Check for exclusions
īŽ tPA
īŽ No anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy for 24 hours
īŽ If not a candidate: Antiplatelet Therapy
īŽ CT Scan â Hemorrhage:
īŽ Neurosurgery?
īŽ If no surgery: Stroke Unit
īŽ Monitor BP and treat Hypertension
īŽ Monitor Neuro status
īŽ Monitor blood glucose and treat as needed
īŽ Supportive therapy
29. Cerebrovascular Accident
Goals for Management
īŽ Immediate â assess & stabilize
īŽ ABCs, VS
īŽ Neurologic screening
īŽ Oxygen if hypoxic
īŽ IV access
īŽ Check glucose
īŽ Active stroke team
īŽ Emergent CT scan of brain
īŽ 12-lead EKG
īŽ Immediate Neuro Assessment
īŽ Establish symptom onset
īŽ Review hx
īŽ Stroke Scale
īŽ Facial droop; arm drift; abnormal speech
35. Cerebrovascular Accident
Hemorrhagic-Subarachnoid
īļ Commonly caused by rupture of cerebral aneurysm
(congenital or acquired)
īļ Saccular or berry â few to 20-30 mm in size
īļ Majority occur in the Circle of Willis
īļ Other causes: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM),
trauma, illicit drug abuse
īļ Incidence: 6-16/100,000
īļ Increases with age and more common in women
36. Cerebrovascular Accident
Hemorrhagic-Subarachnoid
Cerebral Aneurysm
īļ Warning Symptoms: sudden onset of a severe
headache â âworst headache of oneâs lifeâ
īļ Change of LOC, Neurological deficits, nausea,
vomiting, seizures, stiff neck
īļ Despite improvements in surgical techniques,
many patients die or left with significant
cognitive difficulties
37.
38. Hemorrhagic-Subarachnoid
Cerebral Aneurysm
īļ Surgical Treatment:
īļ Clipping the aneurysm â prevents rebleed
īļ Coiling â platinum coil inserted into the lumen of the
aneurysm to occlude the sac
īļ Postop: Vasospasm prevention â Calcium Channel
Blockers
42. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
Middle Cerebral Artery Involvement
īļ Contralateral weakness
īļ Hemiparesis; hemiplegia
īļ Contralateral hemianesthesia
īļ Loss of proprioception, fine touch and localization
īļ Dominant hemisphere: aphasia
īļ Nondominant hemisphere â neglect of opposite side;
anosognosia â unaware or denial of neuro deficit
īļ Homonymous hemianopsia â defective vision or
blindness right or left halves of visual fields of both
eyes
43. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
Anterior Cerebral Artery Involvement
īļ Brain stem occlusion
īļ Contralateral
īļ weakness of proximal upper extremity
īļ sensory & motor deficits of lower extremities
īļ Urinary incontinence
īļ Sensory loss (discrimination, proprioception)
īļ Contralateral grasp & sucking reflexes may be present
īļ Apraxia â loss of ability to carry out familiar purposeful
movements in the absence of sensory or motor impairment
īļ Personality change: flat affect, loss of spontaneity, loss of
interest in surroundings
īļ Cognitive impairment
44. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
Posterior Cerebral Artery &
Vertebrobasilar Involvement
īļ Alert to comatose
īļ Unilateral or bilateral sensory loss
īļ Contralateral or bilateral weakness
īļ Dysarthria â impaired speech articulation
īļ Dysphagia â difficulty in swallowing
īļ Hoarseness
īļ Ataxia, Vertigo
īļ Unilateral hearing loss
īļ Visual disturbances (blindness, homonymous
hemianopsia, nystagmus, diplopia)
45. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Motor Function Impairment
īļ Caused by destruction of motor neurons in the
pyramidal pathway (brain to spinal cord)
īļ Mobility
īļ Respiratory function
īļ Swallowing and speech
īļ Gag reflex
īļ Self-care activities
49. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Affect
īļ Difficulty controlling emotions
īļ Exaggerated or unpredictable emotional response
īļ Depression / feelings regarding changed body
image and loss of function
50. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Intellectual Function
īļ Memory and judgment
īļ Left-brain stroke: cautious in making judgments
īļ Right-brain stroke: impulsive & moves quickly to
decisions
īļ Difficulties in learning new skills
51. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Communication
īļ Left hemisphere dominant for language skills in the
right-handed person & most left-handed persons --
Aphasia/Dysphasia
īļ Involvement Expression & Comprehension
īļ Receptive Aphasia (Wernickeâs area): sounds of speech
nor its meaning can be understood â spoken & written
īļ Expressive Aphasia (Brocaâs area): difficulty in
speaking and writing
īļ Dysarthria: Affects the mechanics of speech due to
muscle control disturbances â pronunciation, articulation,
and phonation
52. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Spatial-Perceptual Alterations â 4 categories:
īļ 1. Incorrect perception of self & illness
īļ 2. Erroneous perception of self in space â may neglect
all input from the affected side (worsened by
homonymous hemianopsia)
īļ 3. Agnosia: Inability to recognize an object by sight,
touch or hearing
īļ 4. Apraxia: Inability to carry out learned sequential
movements on command
54. Cerebrovascular Accident
Clinical Manifestations
īļ Elimination
īļ Most problems occur initially and are temporary
īļ One hemisphere stroke: prognosis is excellent for
normal bladder function
īļ Bowel elimination: motor control not a problem â
constipation associated with immobility, weak
abdominal muscles, dehydration, diminished
response to the defecation reflex
55.
56. Cerebrovascular Accident
Treatment Goals
īļ Prevention â Health Maintenance Focus:
īļ Healthy diet
īļ Weight control
īļ Regular exercise
īļ No smoking
īļ Limit alcohol consumption
īļ Route health assessment
īļ Control of risk factors
58. Cerebrovascular Accident
Diagnostic Studies
īļ Done to confirm CVA and identify cause
īļ PE: Neuro Assessment; Carotid bruit
īļ Carotid doppler studies (ultrasound study)
īļ CT â primary â identifies size, location, differentiates
between ischemic and hemorrhagic
īļ CTA â CT Angiography â visualizes vasculature
īļ MRI â greater specificity than CT
īļ May not be able to be used on all patients (metal,
claustrophobia)
īļ Angiography: gold standard for imaging carotid arteries
59. Cerebrovascular Accident
Treatment Goals
īļ Drug Therapy â Thrombotic CVA â to reestablish blood
flow through a blocked artery
īļ Thrombolytic Drugs: tPA (tissue plasminogen activator)
īļ produce localized fibrinolysis by binding to the fibrin in the
thrombi
īļ Plasminogen is converted to plasmin (fibrinolysin)
īļ Enzymatic action digests fibrin & fibrinogen
īļ Results is clot lysis
īļ Administered within 3 hours of symptoms of ischemic
CVA
īļ Confirmed DX with CT
īļ Patient anticoagulated
īļ ASA, Calcium Channel Blockers
60. CVA - Treatment Goals
īļ Surgical Treatment
īļ Carotid endarterectomy â preventive â > 100,000/year
īļ removal of atheromatous lesions
īļ Clipping, wrapping, coiling Aneurysm
īļ Evacuation of aneurysm-induced hematomas larger
than 3 cm.
īļ Treatment of AV Malformations
62. Carotid Artery Disease
īŽ Carotid artery disease is the leading cause of strokes.
īŽ More than 50% of stroke victims present no warning signs.
īŽ
īŽ After age 55, the risk of stroke doubles every 10 years.
īŽ 97% of the adult population cannot name a single
warning sign of a stroke.
īŽ 50% of nursing home admissions are stroke victims
67. Cerebrovascular Accident
Treatment Goals
īļ Drug Therapy
īļ Measures to prevent the development of a thrombus or
embolus for âAt Riskâ patients:
īļ Antiplatelet Agents
īļ Aspirin
īļ Plavix
īļ Combination
īļ Oral anticoagulation â Coumadin
īļ Treatment of choice for individuals with atrial fibrillation who have had
a TIA
68. Cerebrovascular Accident
Nursing Diagnoses
īļ Ineffective tissue perfusion r/t decreased
cerebrovascular blood flow
īļ Ineffective airway clearance
īļ Impaired physical mobility
īļ Impaired verbal communication
īļ Impaired swallowing
īļ Unilateral neglect r/t visual field cut & sensory loss
īļ Impaired urinary elimination
īļ Situational low self-esteem r/t actual or perceived loss of
function
69. Cerebrovascular Accident
Nursing Goals
īļ Maintain stable or improved LOC
īļ Attain maximum physical functioning
īļ Attain maximum self-care activities & skills
īļ Maintain stable body functions
īļ Maximize communication abilities
īļ Maintain adequate nutrition
īļ Avoid complications of stroke
īļ Maintain effective personal & family coping
70. Cerebrovascular Accident
Warning Signs of Stroke
īļ Sudden weakness, paralysis, or numbness of the
face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the
body
īļ Sudden dimness or loss of vision in one or both
eyes
īļ Sudden loss of speech, confusion, or difficulty
speaking or understanding speech
īļ Unexplained sudden dizziness, unsteadiness, loss
of balance, or coordination
īļ Sudden severe headache
72. Cerebrovascular Accident
Acute Phase
īļ Nsg Action:
īļ Supportive Care
īļ Respiratory â spans from intubation to breathing on own
īļ Musculoskeletal -- Positioning â side-to-side; HOB elevated;
PROM exercise; splints; shoes/footboard
īļ GI â enteral feedings initially
īļ GU â foley catheter
īļ Skin â preventive care
īļ Meds: anti platelet
73. Cerebrovascular Accident
Acute Phase
īļ Patient Education:
īļ Clear explanations for all care/treatments
īļ Focus on improvementsâregained abilities
īļ Include family
77. Cerebrovascular Accident
Rehabilitation
īļ Comprehensive plan â
īļ Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation / Inpatient Rehab
īļ Learn techniques to self-monitor & maintain physical
wellness
īļ Demonstrate self-care skills
īļ Exhibit problem-solving skills with self-care
īļ Avoid complications of stroke
īļ Communication
īļ Maintain nutrition & hydration
īļ Use community resources
īļ Family cohesiveness
78. Cerebrovascular Accident
Rehabilitation
īļ Resources
īļ American Stroke Association
īļ Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
īļ National Institute of Neurological Disorders &
Stroke
īļ National Stroke Association
īļ Society for Neuroscience
īļ Stroke Clubs International