Pregnancy and Stroke
Pregnancy and Stroke. Dr Kneale Metcalf Consultant Stroke Physician NNUHFT. Overview. Incidence Risk factors Management Outcome Avoid. Incidence. Varies according to study Depends on whether you include post-partum events Some studies pre date imaging
Pregnancy and Stroke
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Presentation Transcript
Pregnancy and Stroke Dr Kneale Metcalf Consultant Stroke Physician NNUHFT
Overview • Incidence • Risk factors • Management • Outcome • Avoid
Incidence • Varies according to study • Depends on whether you include post-partum events • Some studies pre date imaging • Estimates 4-11 / 100,000 deliveries
Results (antenatal) • 1.5 cases per 100,000 • 0.9 infarcts • 0.6 haemorrhagic • Note event cluster around time of birth
Maternal changes • Haemostasis • Overall balance = pro-coagulant • Especially 3rd trimester • Return to normal 3 weeks after delivery • Haemodynamic • Increased cardiac output • Initial reduced BP, then increases to delivery
Risk factors • Hypertension • Diabetes • Heart disease • Sickle cell • Thrombolphilia
Risk factors • Alcohol • Smoking • Substance abuse • Age (>35y) • Migraine
Risk factors (UK study) • Hx migraine (OR 8.5) • Hx gestational DM (OR 26.8) • Hx pre or eclampsia (OR 7.7) • Risk stroke – every mmHg highest recorded during pregnancy • Systolic = 3% • Diastolic = 8%
Pregnancy specific risks • Caeserean • Pre / Eclampsia • Hypertension • Proteinuria • Oedema • Then ….headache, confusion, seizures • Amniotic fluid embolism • Post partum cerebral angiopathy • Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Presentation • Standard but…. • Presented with reduced consciousness or collapse • 30% ischaemic • 37% haemorrhagic • Presented with seizure in 33% haemorrhagic strokes
Imaging considerations • CT • Radiation • Definitely avoid in first few weeks • CT perfusion • Radiation dose • MRI • Noise • Vibration • Magnetic field • Avoid Gadalinium
Treatment • Haemorrhage – standard • Venous Sinus Thrombosis – standard • Remember risks versus benefit, including the foetus • Infarct – controversial. 11 case reports using Alteplase • Legal situation??
Real world • Remember your differential….. • Migraine • Eclampsia • Remember venous sinus thrombosis • If very bad ?intervention • Get the best imaging you can safely (MRI) • Get the Obstetricians down ASAP • Communicate ++++++ • Consider the baby all the time • Each case will have to be judged on merit • Legal……is doing nothing safe??
Prevention • Little guidance • Consider • Pregnant past Hx stroke • thrombophilia • Cardiac abnormaities • Antiplatelet • LMWH
Summary of discussion • Essentially an evidence free zone • Alteplase not licenced in pregnancy • All respondents were from advanced stroke centres • Possibility of endovascular intervention • Alteplase doesn’t cross placental barrier • Disabling stroke is a disaster • More info the better (imaging etc.) • Time is brain
All agreed • IV thrombolysis possibly with thrombectomy • But… • They had full MRI imaging and vascular imaging • On site warmed up vascular lab • Long way from the EoE – but what of the future??
Summary • May we never have a case! • Be as sure as you can be it’s a stroke • Don’t be too petrified to treat