How is a stroke written up in medical language by medical personnel? Will the chart say “stroke” or will it say “altered mental state?” How will a stroke be written up?
It can say either one of those things. It can say “cerebrovascular accident” or “ischemic event” or “thrombotic event” Or it could be a transient ischemic event (mini-stroke or TIA)
Usually the altered mental status would be considered a symptom of the problem – the reason for admission, perhaps. Then the medical workup would be done, with CAT scan or MRI of the brain, to try to find the reason for the symptoms. The CVA, stroke or whatever would then be considered the definitive diagnosis, or if none were found, then other workup to find the cause of the altered mental status, like medications, blood pressure problems, lung problems causing hypoxemia, chemistry problems like diabetes or other imbalances, all of which can also cause altered mental status, would be looked at.
Usually it will be called transient ischemic attacks or TIA’s
It can say either one of those things. It can say “cerebrovascular accident” or “ischemic event” or “thrombotic event” Or it could be a transient ischemic event (mini-stroke or TIA)
Usually the altered mental status would be considered a symptom of the problem – the reason for admission, perhaps. Then the medical workup would be done, with CAT scan or MRI of the brain, to try to find the reason for the symptoms. The CVA, stroke or whatever would then be considered the definitive diagnosis, or if none were found, then other workup to find the cause of the altered mental status, like medications, blood pressure problems, lung problems causing hypoxemia, chemistry problems like diabetes or other imbalances, all of which can also cause altered mental status, would be looked at.