A watershed stroke, also known as a border-zone infarct, is a medical emergency.

Symptoms and Warning Signs of a Watershed Stroke

Watershed strokes are one key in ofischemic stroke.

Ischemic strokes are those in which the blood flow to the brain is restricted or reduced.

Mixed race patient sleeping in hospital bed

FS Productions / Getty Images

They differ fromhemorrhagic strokesin which blood vessels servicing the brain burst.

The symptoms of a watershed stroke are similar to that of other ischemic strokes.

The symptoms can also come and go.

This deprives the brain of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to keep regional tissues alive.

Treatment

Watershed strokes require emergency medical attention to prevent irreparable brain injury.

The treatment can vary by the cause of the stroke as well as its severity.

Alternatively, the carotid artery can be accessed throughpercutaneous angioplasty.

A tiny mesh tube, called astent, can then be placed in the vessel to keep it open.

Even so, rehabilitation efforts can take time.

Symptoms are similar to other types of stroke, although they are often milder and easily missed at first.

A Word From Verywell

A stroke is a major event that can change your life.

This is important because having a stroke places you at risk of having another one.

Juergenson I, Mazzucco S, Tinazzi M.A typical example of cerebral watershed infarct.Clin Pract.

2011;1(4):e114.doi:10.4081/cp.2011.e114

American Stroke Association.Ischemic stroke treatment.

Reviewed December 5, 2018.

2017 Sep;26(9):1966-1973. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2017.06.016