How to Treat CVA

CVA or cerebral vascular accident is another name for a stroke. A stroke happens when the tissue is deprived of oxygen. The deprivation is caused either by blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the tissues, or from pressure caused by a bleeding artery. The treatments for stroke involve restoring blood supply to the tissues either by surgery or medication. In recent years, there have been new advances that have increased the effectiveness of stroke treatments.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine if the stroke is being caused by a blocked neck artery. This artery is called the carotid artery and there is one on either side of the neck. A surgeon can perform a carotid endarterectomy, which removes the accumulated plaque that is blocking the artery. This restores blood flow to the tissue and treats the symptoms of the stroke.

• 2

  Determine if the blood vessels can be opened by use of cerebral angioplasty. A doctor will enter the arteries of the brain through a small incision in a peripheral artery and remove plaque, to restore blood flow beyond the blockage. Stents, balloons and coils are used to keep the arteries of the brain open and treat the stroke. This can only be used on the larger arteries of the brain.

• 3

  Determine if the stroke is ischemic (blockage) or hemorrhagic (bleeding). If the stroke is definitely not a bleeding stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be used. This medication dissolves the clot and restores blood flow. It must be given within three hours of stroke onset -- and only to someone who does not have a brain bleed.