Question

Module 6: Case study #2 Strokes A 77-year-old woman was cooking in the kitchen when she collapsed onto the floor. Her daughter called an ambulance and the woman was taken to the emergency room. She had suffered a stroke, and slowly regained consciousness over the next two days. However, when she woke up, she had the following signs and symptoms: - paralysis of the right face and arm - loss of sensation to touch on the skin of the right face and arm - inability to answer questions but ability to understand what was said to her - ability to write down her thoughts more easily than to speak them.

1. What is the name of her language disorder, and what caused it?

2. If there was no increase ICP detected from the test performed at the hospital then what types of strokes could she have possibly had?

3. What could have been some factors that have predisposed this old lady to having a stroke?

4. What are some testing that were done her once she was admitted to the hospital? Why was testing needed before her treatment for her stroke was started?

5.

This is a 2 part question:

a) Her test results also spotted several small aneurysms. What is an aneurysm? What would rupture of this cause?

b) Her collapse to the fall also caused a mild blow to her head, with no permanent damage. What kind of head injury would this be?

Answer 1

1. The language disorder the woman facing is aphasia.She could not speak but able to understand and write.The reason for this is she had a stroke.

2. If there is no increased intra cranial pressure this may be ischemic stroke.

Rationale : ICP causes because of blood entering or pooling in to the brain, aneurysm ruptures.So bleeding can be seen in haemorrhagic strokes.

3. Factors that are predisposed to stroke are her age being 77 years she is working in the kitchen , might be her work stress and lack of strength to cope up with.

4. Testings can be CT scan of head To find any blockages due to thrombus formation, EKG is to find out the atrial fibrillation or flutter.Her last well known to treat the patient with thrombolytic, anti coagulants, anti thrombotic drugs in order to make her return to normal stage

5. a. Aneurysms are dilatation or swelling of the walls of arteries.Aneurysm rupture leads to bleeding thus increasing intra cranial pressure leading to severe haemorrhagic strokes.

b.These type of injuries with out damage are known as concussion.This may be blow to the head or a slight fall.