Cerebral ischemia, most commonly known as stroke, is the deficit supply of blood to the brain or part of the brain that is due to obstruction of the inflow of arterial blood. The most common cause of cerebral ischemia is atherosclerosis, a condition in which your arteries become clogged and hardened as a result of abnormal fatty deposits, according to MedlinePlus. Cerebral ischemia or brain attack is a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, killing nearly 150,000 people each year, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Surgery
Surgery may be appropriate for patients with ischemic stroke caused by a thrombus or blood clot occluding the blood flowing freely to the brain. You have a pair of arteries that pass up the neck and supply the head, called carotid arteries. Blocked carotid arteries in the neck can lead to ischemic stroke, according to MedlinePlus. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure that's performed to unblock a carotid artery that has accumulated plaque or fat buildup in it.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator or tPA
Tissue plasminogen activator is a medicine that lyses a clot and potentially restores blood flow to the affected area in the brain, thereby helping to prevent premature cell death and permanent damage. But tPA is not prescribed to patients with certain medical situations--such as a tendency to bleed, heart infection or diabetes--because there is a potential risk of serious bleeding in the brain.
Cerebral Angioplasty
Cerebral angioplasty is considered for patients who experience several small strokes that can't be treated with medications. During angioplasty, the vascular surgeon places a small metal coil, called a stent, in the artery. The metal coil helps to widen your blood vessel and improve blood flow. However, widespread use of cerebral angioplasty requires further study of safety and effectiveness.
