5 - Stroke Management Flashcards
What are some stroke mimics?
What are typical stroke syndrome symptoms that differentiate a stroke from a stroke mimic?
- Sudden onset
- Focal
- Predominantly negative
- Vascular territory hypoperfusion can explain collection of symptoms
Therefore stroke mimic if any of: gradual onset, evolution of symptoms, non-focal, positive symptoms or not related to vascular territory, stereotyping
What is stereotyping in stroke medicine?
Episodic recurrence of neurological disturbance in an identical fashion with complete resolution in between
Predictor of stroke mimic
What is the NIHSS score and how do we interpret the score?
Predictive score of outcome in stroke. Used to assess stroke severity, decide on consideration for thrombolysis and estimate prognosis
Out of 42:
- <4: good outcome
- >22: high risk of cerebral haemorrhage with thrombolysis
- 26 or more: CI for thrombolysis
What is the Rosier Scale?
Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room
Differentiate between stroke and stroke mimics
Score of 0 is unlikely but cannot be ruled out
What are the tools used to identify a stroke?
- FAST: in community, if positive need to go to HASU urgent
- NIHSS score
- Rosier Scale
What is the ASPECTS score?
Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score
10 point CT scan score for patients with MCA stroke
1 point deducted for every region involved
Helps predict outcome and helps decide whether to do thrombolysis
What is the OCSP classification?
Oxford Community Stroke Project classification
What is the Modified Rankin Scale?
Used to look at level of global disability/dependence following stroke.
Used to assess baseline function and evaluate outcomes after interventions
What are CHADVASC and HASBLED scores?
Guide to anticoagulation with AF
Stroke risk and bleeding risk
What is a ABCD2 score and how is the score interpreted?
Stroke risk assessment following TIA
Helps to guide when to see a patient following a TIA
What TIA patients are at very high risk of stroke and need to be seen within 24 hours in TIA clinic?
Everyone with TIA should be seen within 24 hours, especially:
- ABCD2 >4
- Multiple TIAs (>2 in 7 days)
- Patients in AF
- On anticoagulation
Start all patients on aspirin 300mg if not CI
Once a patient is screened in the community with FAST and they are positive, what happens next?
- If within thrombolysis time window urgent transfer to HASU
- NIHSS score
- Clinical assessment (see image)
- Urgent Non-Contrast CT +/- CT Angio
- Airway protection if reduced GCS and NBM for aspiration precaution
Why is an urgent CT head done in a suspected stroke?
Diffusion weighted MRI more sensitive for ischaemic stroke but quicker to do CT to rule out haemorrhage as this is CI for thrombolysis
What is the acute management if a patient has a CT and it is a haemorraghic stroke?
Biggest risk of death is raised ICP so:
- NBM and airway support
- Keep BP <140/90
- Correct any clotting abnormalities e.g Vit K/PCC for Warfarin
- Decompressive Hemicraniectomy
- Suboccipital Craniotomy for posterior fossa bleed
- Coil or clipping of aneurysm