Cerebral infarction due to insufficient cerebral blood flow (hypoperfusion) which results in ischemia and neuronal injury).

Aetiology

• 40% Thrombotic: Atherosclerosis (large vessels), small vessel occlusion (arteriolosclerosis)

• 20% Embolic: cardiac (AF, RHD etc), atheroemboli (ICA), infectious (bacterial endocarditis), paradoxical

• Hypoxic: Systemic hypoperfusion or hypoxemia (cardio surg, cardiac arrest, septic shock, drowning), Impacts in watershed areas

  

Risk Factors

Modifiable

• Systemic hypertension
• Hyperlipidemia
• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus
• Atherosclerosis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Carotid artery stenosis
• Atrial fibrillation
• Coagulopathy , hyperhomocysteinemia
• Alcohol, smoking, cocaine use
• Oral contraceptive use