Stroke occurs when a blood vessel leading to the brain is ruptured, or when a blood vessel of the brain becomes blocked by a clot, according to the Mayo Clinic. A ruptured blood vessel in the brain leads to a hemorrhagic stroke in which bleeding occurs in or near the brain. When a clot occurs in a blood vessel of the brain, an ischemic stroke ensues, in which a part of the brain suffers from an insufficient supply of oxygenated blood. Doctors need to determine whether the stroke is hemorrhagic or ischemic before a treatment decision can be made.
Thrombolytic Therapy for Ischemic Stroke
According to Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, thrombolytic therapy involves the use of drugs to break up an abnormal blood clot. These drugs are commonly referred to as clot-busting drugs. Patients who are suffering from a stroke that is caused by a blood clot can benefit from thrombolytic therapy only if treatment begins within three hours from the time the symptoms of a stroke are first observed. According to the American Heart Association, tissue plasminogen activator is an example of a drug that can dissolve blood clots. When administered intravenously within three hours after the onset of a stroke, this drug can limit damage to the brain tissue. It is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the emergency treatment of ischemic stroke.
Blood Thinners and Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors for Ischemic Stroke
Doctors can use the blood thinning drugs heparin and warfarin to treat patients suffering from ischemic stroke, according to Medline Plus. These drugs hinder the ability of the blood to clot, thereby helping to keep oxygenated blood flowing to brain cells. Drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel, which prevent blood platelets from sticking together, may be used to reduce the risk of additional blood clots.
Treatment for Hemorrhagic Stroke
According to Drugs.com, the most common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is chronic high blood pressure. Bleeding from the ruptured vessel inside the brain may cause the pressure inside the skull to increase. Doctors need to monitor this pressure by setting up an intracranial pressure line that consists of a thin flexible tube inserted into the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke patients may also need an intravenous line for the administration of medication and fluids. Patients may need medication to prevent infection or seizures. They may also need diuretics to stimulate elimination of body fluids thereby reducing swelling in the brain. Other medications that hemorrhagic stroke patients may receive include antihypertensives to lower blood pressure and drugs to enhance blood clotting, according to Drugs.com.
It is possible that medication will not be enough to stop the bleeding from a hemorrhagic stroke, and the patient may need surgery to repair the ruptured blood vessel and remove the blood that has pooled inside the brain.
