Ischemic Strokes
This type of stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, depriving brain tissue of oxygen.
What is an ischemic stroke?
Unlike an ischemic stroke, this type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeding occurs in or around the brain.
What is a subarachnoid stroke?
This simple test is important in virtually every suspected stroke because abnormal levels can mimic neurologic deficits.
What is blood glucose?
A large vessel occlusion.
What does the VAN help identify?
Slurred Speech
What is dysarthria?
This is the area of brain tissue surrounding the infarct that is ischemic but potentially salvageable.
What is the penumbra?
This common chronic medical condition is the leading risk factor for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
What is hypertension?
A patient with suspected hemorrhagic stroke suddenly becomes less responsive and vomits. These two immediate priorities should move to the top of your assessment.
What are airway and breathing?
Patient has new right arm drift and normal vision, no aphasia, and no neglect. VAN positive or negative?
What is VAN negative?
Total or partial loss of the ability to use or understand language (spoken, written, or signed).
What is aphasia?
This is the most common cause of an ischemic stroke, occurring when a clot forms in a cerebral artery or travels to it.
What is a thrombus/embolus?
Sudden vomiting, decreased level of consciousness, and severe headache can all be warning signs of this type of neurological emergency.
What is intracranial hemorrhage?
A patient has sudden left-sided weakness after falling down a flight of stairs. There is concern for significant trauma. Does this patient meet the MSTU acceptance criteria?
What is no? Significant trauma on scene excludes the patient.
This patient will receive a CTA.
What is a VAN positive patient?
This neurologic deficit describes lack of awareness to one side of the body or environment and can occur with right hemispheric stroke.
What is neglect?
This treatment uses medication to dissolve a blood clot in selected patients with acute ischemic stroke.
What is IV thrombolytics?
A patient suddenly develops a severe headache while exercising and says it came on "like a thunderclap." This should raise concern for this condition.
What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
This patient characteristic is specifically listed as an exclusion from MSTU acceptance.
What is reported or visibly pregnant?
A patient has obvious left-sided weakness but insists, "There's nothing wrong with my left arm." This behavior can be associated with this cortical deficit.
What is neglect?
This neurologic finding can be a clue to a LVO-where both eyes are deviated toward one side.
What is gaze deviation?
What is mechanical thrombectomy?
This potentially life-threatening complication occurs when pressure causes brain tissue to shift from its normal position.
What is brain herniation?
The patient denies chest pain, but the EKG shows changes concerning for an acute MI. Does the patient meet the MSTU cardiac criterion?
What is no?
Patient has:
LKW 7 hours ago
Right sided weakness
Normal Vision
Aphasia
No Neglect
Does this patient meet criteria to come on MSTU?
What is yes?
A patient has sudden vertigo, diplopia, dysarthria, ataxia, and vomiting. These symptoms should raise concern for ischemic in this circulation.
What is the posterior circulation?