Stroke
In this article, we will discuss about:
Types of stroke
There are two main types of stroke:
80% are ischaemic strokes
Clots in arteries travels along the bloodstream and becomes lodged in the brain, reducing or blocking blood flow that part of the brain.
20% are haemorrhagic strokes (higher mortality)
Blood vessels leaks or ruptures, causing blood to accumulate in or around brain tissues.
Symptoms of stroke
Trouble speaking (e.g., slurring) or understanding what others are saying.
Sudden problems seeing in one or both eyes (e.g. blurring, blackened or double vision) .
Trouble walking with loss of balance and coordination.
Sudden paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg, often on one side of the body. The side of the mouth droops when smiling.
A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness.
What is the prognosis of haemorrhagic stroke?
Although less common than ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes are more serious and life-threatening.
Without treatment, often surgery, many will not survive beyond the first few days after haemorrhagic stroke.
Traditionally, good outcomes are rare with only 1 in 5 to have good recovery after a haemorrhagic stroke.
Receiving the appropriate treatment very early after stroke onset is critical to maximise the chances of good outcome.
Causes of stroke
Haemorrhagic strokes occur about twice more commonly among Asian than Western countries, and account for between 20% to 25% of all strokes in Singapore.
Causes of Ishaemic Stroke
Ischaemic stroke is caused by the severe reduction of blood flow to a region of the brain by a blocked vessel.
The blockade or narrowing of blood vessel is often due to fatty deposits in arteries that break off, or blood clots in the vessels, and travel to the brain and gets lodge in the brain.
The blockade or narrowing of blood vessel is often due to fatty deposits in arteries that break off, or blood clots in the vessels, and travel to the brain and gets lodge in the brain.
Causes of Haemorrhagic stroke
Haemorrhagic stroke is caused by conditions that affect your blood vessels, which include:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Use of blood thinning medications
- Bulges and weak spots in your blood vessel walls (aneurysms, cavernoma, arteriovenous malformations)
- Trauma to the head (such as an accident)
Diagnosis of stroke
History and neurological examination
CT brain scan (with special sequence that can visualise blood vessels)
Do consecutive CT brain scans in the first 6 to 24 hours after stroke to monitor changes in size of blood clot over time.
MRI brain scan
Get a MRI brain to look for underlying cause such as tumour or vascular abnormalities.
Treatment of haemorrhagic stroke
1. Medical Management
Medical management is usually employed with smaller sized blood clots. Over time, the blood clot will resolve by themselves.
- Oral medications are aimed at keeping the blood pressure within control.
- There is no medication that directly treats the blood clot in haemorrhagic stroke.
2. If the blood clot is large enough to cause significant symptoms, surgery should be considered.
Minimally invasive surgery (early surgery)
A tube-like device is inserted along the natural folds of the brain. The device displaces the normal healthy brain, instead of cutting through them, to access the blood clot usually located deep in the brain. Minimally invasive surgery allows a smaller opening in the skull and lesser trauma to the surrounding normal brain (when compared to conventional craniotomy). As the opening in the skull is small and no skull bone is removed, further surgery to replace the skull is not required.
Craniotomy (opening of skull) to remove clot
A large opening in the skull is made to provide access to the clot. It is often performed in an acute emergency setting.
Decompressive craniectomy (removal of skull)
In some patients with brain swelling, the skull may not be put back immediately in the same procedureInstead, the opening in the skull will be repaired after a few months in another surgery called Cranioplasty.
Summary
Stroke can be a devastating disease.
Early and appropriate treatment can make a significant difference and increase the chances of good recovery.
In severe haemorrhagic stroke, consideration given to early surgery to prevent avoidable and further damage to the brain by the blood clot.
