Clinical - Neuro

Blood clot from somewhere else in the body (such as the lower legs) or a piece of plaque (typically from the carotid arteries) breaks away and flows through the bloodstream to the brain; embolus eventually blocks a cerebral artery, causing distal ischemia.

Dye injected into the vessel to be examined then immediately taking an x-ray. Used to Dx CVD.

Related to arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries; may also be caused by untreated or uncontrolled hypertension, thrombi, or emboli

Symptoms of a CVA include the following except:

Diagnosis made based on characteristic symptoms and by excluding other causes of dementia. Confirmed only by microscopic examination of a sample of brain tissue after death

Stroke; vessel occluded or ruptures; symptoms depend on location and extent of vascular problem.

Headaches—may be incapacitating, with nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances, throbbing pain; aura may occur first.

An artery in the brain ruptures; may be a result of untreated or uncontrolled hypertension or a congenital aneurysm.

A blood clot (thrombus) forms in a cerebral artery and blocks distal blood flow.

Viral infection from mosquito; may cause death or permanent CNS deficits

Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, photophobia, confusion, seizures, and positive Brudzinski’s

Ministrokes; short periods of ischemia in the brain; symptoms pass quickly