Cerebral infarct refers to the sudden insufficiency of blood flow to the brain causing decreased oxygen and subsequent tissue death. A partial or complete occlusion causes the disruption of venous or arterial blood flow. Infarcts from arterial blood occlusions, however, are more common in full-term infants (than premature infants). Most infarcts to single arteries are superficial and affect both the gray and white matter (i.e., tissue closest to the blockage). Single infarcts suggest trauma (e.g., misuse of forceps for delivery or hyperextension of the infant’s neck), whereas multiple infarcts suggest prenatal problems causing emboli or vasculitis (e.g., congenital heart disease and maternal use of cocaine during pregnancy).
A stroke resulting from interrupted blood flow to one of the large or small arteries of the brain.