Question

name one pathological condition, giving symptoms, diagnosing, treatment, and prognosis.

Answer 1

ANSWER
Stroke /Cerebrovascular accident

DEFINITION

stroke is defined as a condition in which poor blood supply to the brain resulting in cell death

TYPES

1.Ischemic :- caused due to blockage resulting in poor blood supply.Its of 2types

*thrombotic:-block caused due to blood clot

*embolic :- any ruptured clot of blood or any other emobolism like fat ,amniotic fluid etc causing blockage and reducing the blood flow.

2.Haemorrhagic:-this occurs due to any trauma or injury etc causing bleeding and loss of blood.Its further divided into

*Intracerebral hemorrage

*Subarachnoid hemorrage :- caused by aneurysm or arteriovenous malformations

SYMPTOMS

It depend according to the part of the brain affected and mostly includes

-Hemiplegia

-paraplegia

-Quadriplegia

-Slurred speech

-blurred vision

-Muscular: difficulty walking, instability, paralysis with weak muscles, problems with coordination, stiff muscles, overactive reflexes, or paralysis of one side of the body

-Visual: blurred vision, double vision, sudden visual loss, or temporary loss of vision in one eye

-Speech: difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or speech loss

-Whole body: fatigue, light-headedness, or vertigo

-Limbs: numbness or weakness

-Sensory: pins and needles or reduced sensation of touch

-Facial: muscle weakness or numbness

-Also common: difficulty swallowing, headache, inability to understand, mental confusion, or rapid involuntary eye movement

And other symptoms according to the functional part of brain affected

​​​​​​​DIAGNOSIS

Because treatment depends on the type of stroke, your doctor may use :-

-History and physical examination

-CT head:-Physicians use CT of the head to detect a stroke from a blood clot or bleeding within the brain. To improve the detection and characterization of stroke

-MRI:-MR is also used to image the cerebral vessels, a procedure called MR angiography (MRA). Images of blood flow are produced with a procedure called MR perfusion (MRP). Physicians use MRI of the head to assess brain damage from a stroke.

-ECG/EKG:- to know cardiac functioning

-Blood test:-routine to check serum lipids ,electrolytes etc

-Carotid ultrasound :- Doppler ultrasound to check for narrowing and blockages in the body's two carotid arteries, which are located on each side of the neck and carry blood from the heart to the brain. Doppler ultrasound produces detailed pictures of these blood vessels and information on blood flow.

-2D ECHO:-to know the cardiac status

-Cerebral Angiography:-Cerebral angiography helps physicians detect or confirm abnormalities such as a blood clot or narrowing of the arteries.

Immediate stroke treatment can help save lives and reduce disability by restoring blood flow for an ischemic stroke or controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain in the case of a hemorrhagic stroke.

TREATMENT

Treatment depends according to the type of stroke.Treatment will focus on restoring blood flow for an ischemic stroke and on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain in a hemorrhagic stroke.

If Ischemic

-Thrombolysis:- breakdown of the clot by using a tissue plasminogen activator or other anticoagulants

-Thrombectomy:- a procedure by which the cloat is surgically removed

-Craniotomy:- an opening made into the cranium of brain to treat it.

-Craniectomy:- Removal of a part of cranium.

-Intracranial vascular treatments: Endovascular therapy is a minimally invasive procedure used to improve blood flow in the brain's arteries and veins.

If haemorragic

-Supportive care is provided based on the client symptoms like

for example :- Anticoagulants

Antihypertensives ..etc based on symptoms

-Early treatment of aneurysm in case kd subarachnoid hemorrages.

-Rehabilitation

PROGNOSIS

Prognosis also depends according to the stroke type and also depends on the severity and also immediate action or treatment provided. The stroke is better treated if taken to hospital immediately .More than three quarters of people who suffer a stroke survive for a year and over half survive for more than five years.
The patient prognosis after an ischemic stroke is much more positive than after a hemorrhagic stroke.

In addition to killing off brain cells, hemorrhagic stroke increases the risk of dangerous complications such as increased intracranial pressure or spasms in the brain vasculature.

Many people who survive a stroke recover their independence, although around one quarter are left living with minor disability and around 40% have more severe disabilities. Stroke outcome can be calculated using the National Institutes of Health stroke scale, which includes 11 factors ranging from facial movement through to consciousness level, to predict and assess how favorable the patient’s outlook is. If patients score less than 10, the outlook is generally favorable after one year, while a score of more than 20 suggests a less positive prognosis.