ISCHEMIC STROKE

Acute occlusion of an intracranial vessel causes reduction in blood flow to the brain region it
supplies.

Hypertension
Atrial fibrillation
Diabetes
Smoking
Hyperlipidemia
Carotid stenosis

ETIOLOGY OF ISCHEMIC STROKE

Cardioembolic Stroke
Responsible for ~20% of all ischemic strokes
Most significant causes of cardioembolic stroke in most of the world are
- Nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation,
- MI,
- Prosthetic valves,
- Rheumatic heart disease, and
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Carotid atherosclerosis
Risk factors: Male gender, older age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia
are risk factors for carotid disease

SURGICAL THERAPY
Symptomatic carotid stenosis
Ipsilateral stroke risk at 2 years was 26% for patients treated medically and 9% for those
receiving the same medical treatment plus a carotid endarterectomy.

SMALL-VESSEL STROKE
Infarcts range in size from 3 mm to 2 cm in diameter.
Hypertension and age are the principal risk factors

LESS COMMON CAUSES OF STROKE

Hypercoagulable disorders - Venous sinus thrombosis
Drugs
Primary and Secondary Prevention of Stroke and TIA