Cerebrovascular Accident Classifications
CVAs are generally classified as ischemic (occlusive) or hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are further divided into thrombotic strokes and embolic strokes.
Ischemic Stroke – caused by occlusion of a cerebral artery by either a thrombus or an embolus.
Hemorrhagic Stroke - In this type of stroke, the integrity of the vessel is interrupted. Hemorrhage into the brain tissue generally results from a ruptured saccular (berry) aneurysm, rupture of an AV malformation or, hypertension. A ruptured cerebral aneurysm is another cause of hemorrhagic stroke.