Stroke Treatment and Nursing Care

Receiving immediate emergency medical care after the onset of stroke is critical. Treatment depends on the type of stroke, as follows:

1. Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

To treat an ischemic stroke, blood flow to the brain must be restored as quickly as possible. Thrombolytic medication, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), should be administered within three hours of the first onset of symptoms when clinically appropriate. Prompt treatment not only improves survival but may also reduce stroke-related complications. The treating physician may recommend a procedure to open a partially or completely blocked artery, including:

• Carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

• Placement of a flexible mesh stent within the narrowed artery. https://youtube.com/shorts/vI63bzub54Y?si=C4PnZgHkKuHHkYss

https://youtu.be/acVlRqvxMeM?si=_FTL_HAxfb7H3LQi

https://youtu.be/H069gM_oOnk?si=zjgf7eoiuREVfEee 

• Mechanical thrombectomy. https://youtube.com/shorts/qavUvIMm-J8?si=cuUMcupCZ7uDi2AK

2. Treatment of Hemorrhagic Stroke

Surgery may be useful in treating a hemorrhagic stroke or preventing a future stroke. https://youtu.be/p0J5o6mn-ZM?si=LIsYVpcuerBsIiNy

The physician may recommend one of the following procedures when the patient is at a high or increasing risk of aneurysm formation or blood-vessel rupture:

• Aneurysm clipping. https://youtu.be/MmgbIBckg70?si=-t0BsGuyeku6oE9E

• Aneurysm coiling, wrapping, or ligation.

• Removal or repair of malformed blood vessels.