Initial Assessment and Triage of the Stroke Patient

Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2017 May-Jun;59(6):527-533. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2017.04.004. Epub 2017 Apr 27.

Abstract

Nearly 800,000 strokes occur in the United States each year, and stroke is the leading cause of preventable permanent disability. Timely recognition and treatment are imperative to reduce stroke-related morbidity and mortality. Given the evidence supporting intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke, stroke symptoms must be rapidly identified and mimics quickly excluded prior to therapeutic decisions. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator is recommended for all qualified patients and patients with presentations suggesting large vessel occlusion should be evaluated for mechanical thrombectomy. Time to treatment is the most important prognostic factor for clinical outcome, highlighting the importance of reliable and efficient local and regional systems of care.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Mechanical thrombectomy; Stroke; Thrombolysis; Triage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Critical Pathways
  • Decision Support Techniques
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Stroke / mortality
  • Stroke / therapy*
  • Thrombectomy*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triage*

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator