Ischemic middle cerebral artery stroke: a case study

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, ranking lower only to cardiac disease and cancer. Patients with stroke involving large vessels, including the middle cerebral artery, account for almost half of all patients with ischemic strokes and have an increased risk for poor outcomes and mortality at 6 months. Despite the availability and use of published guidelines for the early management of ischemic stroke, evidence to support treatment modalities for cerebral edema is still lacking. This case presentation will include the pathophysiology of an ischemic stroke and outline the established management guidelines. Literature related to the management of cerebral edema will also be discussed.