Stroke as a complication of acute cardiac disease
Insights
Neurologic consultations in cardiac patients address stroke risk before procedures and new deficits after. This review focuses on these common scenarios, offering recent insights for better patient care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Stroke is a significant complication of cardiac disease and procedures.
- Neurologic consultations are frequently requested for cardiac inpatients and those undergoing cardiac procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the general approach to neurologic questions in the cardiac inpatient setting.
- To discuss unique features and recent insights relevant to neurologic consultations in cardiac patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent insights into two primary scenarios for neurologic consultations in cardiac inpatients.
- Focus on stroke risk assessment for cardiac procedures and evaluation of new neurologic deficits.
Main Results:
- Consultations typically address stroke risk in patients needing cardiac procedures (e.g., coronary artery bypass grafting) or with acute cardiac conditions (e.g., atrial fibrillation).
- Consultations also evaluate new neurologic deficits in patients post-procedure or those admitted with active cardiac disease (e.g., heart failure).
Conclusions:
- The article provides a framework for managing neurologic issues in cardiac inpatients.
- Emphasis is placed on common scenarios and recent findings, with less focus on acute stroke management or chronic prevention.
Purpose Of Review:
: Stroke is one of the most feared complications of acute cardiac disease and cardiac procedures. Cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and internal medicine physicians often request neurologic consultations for inpatients with active cardiac disease and for patients with planned cardiac procedures.
Recent Findings:
: Neurologic consultations on cardiac inpatients are typically focused on two basic scenarios: (1) the risk of stroke and potential risk modifiers for patients in need of a particular cardiac procedure (eg, coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG]) or with a specific acute cardiac disease (eg, new atrial fibrillation or endocarditis); or (2) the evaluation of new neurologic deficits in periprocedural patients (eg, post-CABG) or those initially admitted with active cardiac disease (eg, worsening heart failure). Recent insights into these two scenarios are reviewed.
Summary:
: This article reviews a general approach to neurologic questions commonly encountered in the cardiac inpatient setting. Unique features and important recent insights are discussed. Less attention is given to the acute management of stroke in these patients (eg, contraindications for IV thrombolysis, options for endovascular therapy) or chronic stroke prevention strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
Stroke: Introduction and Types
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Atherosclerosis IV: Nursing Management
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
