cerebrovascular accident
An acute neurological event caused by disruption of blood flow to the brain, more commonly termed stroke in modern practice.
Full Definition
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is an older term for stroke, referring to acute neurological injury resulting from interruption of blood supply to brain tissue, either through ischemia (blockage) or hemorrhage (bleeding). While the term CVA remains in some clinical documentation, modern practice favors the more specific terms 'ischemic stroke' and 'hemorrhagic stroke' to better reflect the underlying pathophysiology and guide treatment decisions. Time-sensitive interventions such as thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke require rapid diagnosis and classification. The term 'brain attack' has also been promoted to emphasize the urgency of treatment parallel to 'heart attack' for myocardial infarction.
Usage
Usage note: Consider using 'stroke' instead of CVA in modern clinical documentation for clarity and specificity.
In Context
- "The patient presented with acute cerebrovascular accident affecting the left middle cerebral artery territory." — Emergency department note
- "Rehabilitation goals focus on functional recovery following the recent cerebrovascular accident with right hemiparesis." — Physical therapy assessment