In: Nursing
M.F., age 62, is brought to the emergency department by her son. While visiting her, he became alarmed when he noticed his mother seemed to have problems speaking and forming words. The right side of her face also appears to be "drooping."
M.F. suffers from a history of atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and diabetes. She is taking anti-hypertensive medications. She used to smoke but she quit 4 years ago. Cardiovascular disease runs in her family. Her father died of a heart attack at the age of 52.
A CT scan rules out a brain hemorrhage.
What type of stroke is M.F. experiencing?
What area of M.F.'s brain appears to be affected?
What are some of M.F.'s risk factors for cerebrovascular disease?
What role may atrial fibrillation play in M.F.'s case?
Why is the CT scan information important?
What treatments are available for M.F.?
What type of stroke is M.F. experiencing?
Difficulty in speaking and paralysis of the face is seen in Ischemic stroke.
What area of M.F.'s brain appears to be affected?
Broca's area is in the frontal lobe on the left side of the brain, associated with creating speech.
What are some of M.F.'s risk factors for cerebrovascular disease?
What role may atrial fibrillation play in M.F.'s case?
Blood pooling increases the chance of clot formation in the left atrium which leads to the moving of the clots from the left atrium to the left ventricle and to the aorta. The clot can mount on to the common carotid artery and then to the internal carotid artery. It will then stick to the middle cerebral artery causing brain tissue ischemia and eventually cerebral infarction.
Why is the CT scan information important?
What treatments are available for M.F.?