Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke Questions & Answers

Updated: Jul 30, 2018
  • Author: Erek K Helseth, MD; Chief Editor: Helmi L Lutsep, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

How does cerebral artery (PCA) stroke occur?

What are the neurologic symptoms of sustained posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the benefits of active neurorehabilitation following a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are possible complications of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the neurovascular anatomy relevant to posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are normal variants of neurovascular anatomy relevant to posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are major posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke syndromes?

What is the pathophysiology of paramedian thalamic infarction in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of visual field loss in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of visual agnosia in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of Balint syndrome in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of prosopagnosia in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of palinopsia, micropsia, and macropsia in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of reading disorders in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of color vision perception in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke syndromes?

What is the pathophysiology of memory impairment in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the pathophysiology of motor dysfunction in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What causes ischemic stroke in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the etiology of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are etiologic mechanisms for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are less common etiologies of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of cardioembolism in the etiology of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of proximal vertebrobasilar artery disease in the etiology of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of migraine in the etiology of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the prevalence of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the racial predilections of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which patient groups are at highest risk for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the prognosis of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the mortality rate for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

At discharge, what is included in patient education about posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is included in patient education for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the goals of assessment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Why must time of symptom onset be precisely determined in the assessment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What should be the focus of history in the assessment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the visual symptoms of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is included in the physical exams for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the characteristic physical findings of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

DDX

Which vascular diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which conditions are included in the differential diagnoses of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the differential diagnoses for Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke?

Workup

How should the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke be approached initially?

Which factors determine the focus of the workup for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is included in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke in persons younger than 50 years?

What is the role of imaging in the workup of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of lab studies in the workup of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

When are hematologic and serologic tests indicated in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of CT scanning in the emergent workup for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of CT angiography (CTA) in the workup of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of SPECT scanning in the workup of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the benefits of MRI in the evaluation posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of catheter cerebral angiography in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which specific anatomical features of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke may be identified on angiography?

What is the role of ultrasonography in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of echocardiography in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of electrocardiography in the evaluation of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Treatment

How is the treatment approach for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke determined?

When is ICU admission indicated for treatment of acute posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which comorbidities and complications of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke must be managed in the acute phase?

What are the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which experimental therapies have been reported to aid in the recovery from posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the goals of rehabilitation in patients with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are activity restrictions during treatment posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

How is decreased mobility managed in patients with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which medications are used following the initial treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are the eligibility criteria for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of endovascular therapy in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

When is endovascular therapy indicated for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the efficacy of endovascular therapy for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of vertebral artery bypass in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of rehabilitation in the management of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

When is physical therapy indicated in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of occupational therapy in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of speech therapy in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of recreational therapy in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which dietary modifications are used in the treatment of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which specialist consultations may be beneficial in the management of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is included in the monitoring of patients following a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

When are anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies indicated for the prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Who are interventions for prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke selected?

When is early anticoagulation with heparin indicated for prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the rationale for the acute use of anticoagulant therapy in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

How is low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) administered for the prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What are common prophylactic measures for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

What is the role of statins in the prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Medications

When are long-term anticoagulation indicated for the prevention of recurrent posterior cerebral artery (PCA) strokes?

What is the role of antiplatelet therapy in the management of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke?

Which medications in the drug class HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors are used in the treatment of Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke?

Which medications in the drug class Anticoagulants are used in the treatment of Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke?

Which medications in the drug class Antiplatelet Agents are used in the treatment of Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke?