Post-Stroke Complications Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ASC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Post-Stroke Complications Management flashcards as text
A stroke patient develops a Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern. This MOST likely indicates:
Answer: Bilateral cortical or subcortical damage affecting respiratory drive
Cheyne-Stokes respiration after stroke reflects impaired cortical modulation of the brainstem respiratory centers, typically seen with bilateral hemispheric lesions.
Which intervention MOST effectively reduces the risk of heterotopic ossification (HO) after severe stroke?
Answer: Early mobilization and range-of-motion exercises
Early gentle range-of-motion exercises reduce periarticular inflammation and mechanical triggers that promote HO formation in paralyzed limbs.
A patient 6 weeks post-stroke develops painful, burning dysesthesias in the contralateral hand. The MOST appropriate first-line pharmacological treatment is:
Answer: Amitriptyline or gabapentin
Central post-stroke pain responds best to tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) or anticonvulsants (gabapentin/pregabalin) rather than standard analgesics.
Post-stroke seizures occurring MORE than 7 days after stroke onset are classified as:
Answer: Late-onset seizures (unprovoked) with high recurrence risk
Late seizures (>7 days) are considered unprovoked and carry a 70–80% recurrence risk, often warranting long-term antiepileptic drug therapy.
Which nutritional complication is MOST common in the first month after dysphasic stroke?
Answer: Malnutrition and unintended weight loss
Dysphagia impairs adequate oral intake, leading to protein-calorie malnutrition in up to 50% of stroke patients within 4 weeks.
When initiating VTE pharmacoprophylaxis in a hemorrhagic stroke patient, current guidelines generally recommend waiting at LEAST how long before starting low-molecular-weight heparin?
Answer: 24–48 hours after documented hematoma stability on imaging
Guidelines recommend confirming hematoma stability (typically at 24–48 hours) before initiating pharmacological VTE prophylaxis to minimize re-bleeding risk.
A post-stroke patient in a rehabilitation unit is found to have a residual urine volume of 250 mL after voiding. The MOST appropriate next step is:
Answer: Intermittent catheterization program
Post-void residual >150–200 mL indicates urinary retention; intermittent catheterization is preferred over indwelling catheters to reduce infection risk.