Overview of stroke
This is a common neurological disorder with an incidence of 100,000 people per year in the UK. It is an acute onset vascular event resulting in damage to neurological tissue. The aetiology may be ischaemic or haemorrhagic. Strokes may be further classified by symptoms and signs according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (Bamford) classification, by the lobes affected, or by a number of clinical syndromes.
| Bamford classification | Features |
|---|---|
| Total anterior circulation syndrome (TACS) | Hemiparesis AND
Higher cortical dysfunction AND Homonymous hemianopia |
| Partial anterior circulation syndrome (PACS) | Higher cortical dysfunction alone OR
Two of: hemiparesis, higher cortical dysfunction, hemianopia |
| Posterior circulation syndrome (POCS) | Hemianopia alone, brainstem or cerebellar syndrome |
| Lacunar syndrome (LACS) | Pure motor stroke OR
Pure sensory stroke OR Sensorimotor stroke OR Ataxic hemiparesis OR Dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome |
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