NIH Stroke Scale
What is the difference between aphasia and dysarthria?
Aphasia affects the ability to understand and produce language, but the muscles involved in communication are not affected.
Dysarthria affects the muscles involved in speech, usually causing slurred or slow speech.
What is typically the first imaging technique used in suspected stroke?
CT scan
How many seconds must a patient hold up their arm in order to be scored as "No drift" on the motor arm test?
10 seconds
Is PA given to patients with a stroke onset >6 hours?
How would you test facial palsy in a patient you suspect has had a stroke?
a) Ask the patient to stick their tongue out and move it side to side.
b) Ask the patient to show their teeth or raise their eyebrows and close their eyes.
c) Ask the patient to blink quickly.
d) Perform a pinprick test bilaterally on the forehead, cheek, and jaw.
b) Ask the patient to show their teeth or raise their eyebrows and close their eyes.
What is the penumbra (seen on CT perfusion imaging) and why is it relevant to stroke management?
The tissue surrounding the core of a stroke; injury is still reversible here, so it is the therapeutic target of stroke treatment.