‘Venous Stroke’ or ‘Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis’ is caused by blood clots blocking the veins in the brain. The veins in the brain drain blood from the brain into the heart. When the veins are blocked, the blood cannot drain normally and causes back pressure in the brain leading to all the symptoms. Although venous strokes account for about 1% of all the strokes across all age groups and about 3/4th of all the strokes in people younger than 50 years.
Any predisposing condition that leads to increased tendency for blood clot formation can cause venous stroke. The stroke occurs across all age groups, from infants , pregnant women, cancer patients, patients with blood disorders to elderly patients. Women tend to be more often affected than men.
Predisposing conditions
- Infection
- Trauma
- Pregnancy, puerperium and birth control pill use
- Blood disorders that lead to increased tendency to form blood clots
- Bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis
- Cancer
Symptoms
- Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arm or leg; especially if the numbness is all on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- New onset seizures
How is a venous stroke diagnosed?
CT or MRI scans are required to diagnose the stroke. They help to identify the location of stroke and its severity. Occasionally, a cerebral angiogram may be done to confirm the diagnosis. Blood tests may be required to identify the predisposing condition.
Treatment
Heparin is a naturally occurring clot buster. It is the mainstay of treatment in all the patients with venous stroke. In patients with very high pressure in the head, a surgery may be needed to remove a part of the skull. In rare cases, an angiogram and mechanical retrieval of the clot may be needed.
In general, the outcome of venous stroke is better than that of arterial stroke if the stroke is treated on time and the predisposing condition is identified and treated. complete recovery is possible in up to 80% of the patients.
Hope above information helps increase awareness of stroke.
Thanks for highlighting the symptons of Venous Stoke. Eventhough the same symptoms were found with my nephew,our neurosurgeons did not informed such things. Actually my nephew was treated with Mechanical Thromboctomy right during golden hours,but within 24 hrs, the other clots were found, and Craniotomy(removal of skull part to release pressure) was done. After 36 hours,they found clots in right leg from knee to feet,DVT(Deep Vein Thrombosis).Till that time even surgeons were confused, how clots are occured. But We feel that due to this delay,the patient developed gangrene and ultimatly Right leg was amputed above knee.
However, we have accepted all this as the verdict of God. Now patient is walking on artificial limb, and climb the stairs. Even the removed skull part is also fitted with titanium mesh. And now patient is under physiotherapy and speech therapy.
Glad to know your nephew is doing well. Pray that he very soon has as complete recovery as possible.