Management of Temporooccipital Infarction

Monitoring and Treatment

• The American Heart Association recommends monitoring for deterioration, with frequent assessment of level of arousal and pupillary function, in patients with temporooccipital infarction 1, 2
• Osmotic therapy may be reasonable for patients with clinical deterioration from cerebral swelling associated with the infarction, as recommended by the American Heart Association 1, 2
• Elevation of head of bed to 30° is generally recommended to reduce space-occupying effects of brain swelling, according to the American Heart Association 2, 3
• Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis with subcutaneous heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin should be initiated despite risk of hemorrhagic transformation, as suggested by the American Heart Association 1, 3
• Seizure monitoring may be warranted in patients with fluctuating consciousness, though seizures are uncommon, as noted by the American Heart Association 1