What
should happen when a patient with an acute stroke comes to the ER?
The
first step in acute stroke therapy is a precise diagnosis. Therefore the first
question that the physician asks is Is this a stroke? If yes,
then:
- Where is the injured
brain tissue located and how much is affected?
- What artery has been
affected?
- What is the likely
mechanism of stroke?
- Are there any specific treatments that can reverse the effects
of the stroke?
The initial diagnosis is
usually based on history and physical examination, supported by CT or MRI imaging
technology. All this must be done very quickly. 