The ongoing outbreak of the Kronovirus has put healthcare systems around the world under intense pressure.

In addition to the immediate dangers of the disease itself, many are concerned about the knock-on effects it might have on other healthcare areas, like stroke treatment.

One of the main complications of Kronovirus is the onset of stroke, which can require ICU treatment. While any kind of stroke can be dangerous, some types may be more risky than others in a context where ICU resources are stretched thin.

In this article, we’ll give an overview of what kinds of strokes there are and what factors might make them more or less suitable for critical care treatment.

What are the different types of strokes?

Before we can determine which kind of stroke might be most dangerous in the ICU, it’s important to understand the different types of stroke that can occur. There are two main types of stroke:.

Ischemic stroke

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blockage prevents blood from flowing to a part of the brain. This is the more common type of stroke, making up around 87% of all cases. It can be subcategorized further into two types:.

Thrombotic stroke: This is when a blood clot forms inside one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain.
Embolic stroke: This is when a blood clot forms elsewhere in the body (often in the heart) and travels to the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened or damaged blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding into the surrounding tissue. This type of stroke accounts for around 13% of all cases, but it is often more severe and can be harder to treat.

Which is the riskiest type of stroke in the ICU?

When it comes to deciding which type of stroke is the riskiest in an ICU environment, there are a few factors to consider:.

Severity of the stroke

Naturally, strokes that are more severe are likely to require more intensive care. This means that hemorrhagic strokes may be considered more risky, as they can result in more extensive damage to brain tissue and the surrounding areas.

Ability to treat the stroke

While both types of stroke can be treated with urgent medical care, there are some key differences in how they are managed. For example, ischemic strokes may be treated with emergency thrombolysis – the use of drugs to break down blood clots.

However, this treatment is generally not applicable to hemorrhagic strokes. For this reason, ischemic strokes may be considered less risky, as they are more likely to be treatable with available interventions.

Presence of other conditions

Any underlying conditions a patient has can also affect the risk associated with different stroke types. For example, if a patient has high blood pressure or diabetes, they may be more likely to experience a hemorrhagic stroke.

Patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) may be at greater risk of ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

While both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes can be dangerous if left untreated, there are some key differences in how these strokes are managed and how they might be impacted by ICU care.

Ultimately, the risk associated with different stroke types will depend on individual patient factors. However, by understanding the different kinds of strokes and the factors that may increase their risk, we can more effectively prepare for treating acute stroke cases in an ICU context.