Analytic Review: Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease: Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

disease: diagnosis and management J Intensive Care Med 1986;1:184-196. Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality. The proper management of a stroke patient is dictated by the underlying pathophysiology. An ischemic stroke may occur as a result of restricted flow or thrombosis from atherosclerosis, artery-to-artery embolization, cardiac-to-brain embolization, or disorders of coagulation, to mention a few of the most common causes. Determining the relevant cause of stroke is made more difficult by the coexistence of many possible factors such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiac disease. Nevertheless, judgments are based on the clinical presentation, computed tomographic scans, cerebral angiograms, and results of echocardiography and electrocardiographic monitoring.Therapy of the ischemic stroke patient is aimed primarily at preserving areas of potentially recoverable ischemic brain. This is accomplished by correcting or avoiding circumstances that can promote further impairment of ischemic brain. These include proper management of blood pressure, cardiac function, oxygenation, and fluid balance. The role of anticoagulation, hemodilution therapy, and other proposed forms of therapy is often unclear.

Color Velocity Imaging: Introduction to a New Ultrasound Technology

“…The clinical impact of carotid sonography is great, since a majority of strokes are attributed to atherothrombosis, many acute and preventive stroke therapies are designed to modify such CA, and evidence is accumulating that CA is also a marker for atherosclerosis in other vascular beds [3,4]. Optimal use of sonography by clinicians caring for patients with cerebrovascular disorders requires familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of this technique.…”