Basic Clinical Syndromes and Definitions

Author(s):  
Aparna Pendurthi ◽  
Maxim Mokin

The goal for neurological evaluation in the Emergency Department is to appropriately route potential acute stroke patients toward medical or surgical interventions in the most expedient manner possible. This chapter focuses on familiarizing the reader with main stroke subtypes and clinical manifestations associated with specific syndromes. Acute neurologic episodes being evaluated in the emergent setting for stroke workup can be divided into broad categories based on duration of symptoms, clinical presentation, and findings from basic imaging. This chapter explores the most common of these stroke syndromes and discusses the classification and clinical characteristics of transient ischemic attacks and ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle W Davis ◽  
Meghan Bailey ◽  
Natalie Buchwald ◽  
Amreen Farooqui ◽  
Anna Khanna

Background/Objective: There is growing importance on discovering factors that delay time to intervention for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, as rapid intervention remains essential for better patient outcomes. The management of these patients involves a multidisciplinary effort and quality improvement initiatives to safely increase treatment with intravenous thrombolytic (IV tPa). The objective of this pilot is to evaluate factors of acute stroke care in the emergency department (ED) and the impact they have on IV tPa administration. Methods: A sample of 89 acute ischemic stroke patients that received IV tPa from a single academic medical institution was selected for retrospective analysis. System characteristics (presence of a stroke nurse and time of day) and patient characteristics (mode of arrival and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) on arrival) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression to address the study question. Results: The mean door to needle time is 53.74 minutes ( + 38.06) with 74.2% of patients arriving to the ED via emergency medical services (EMS) and 25.8% having a stroke nurse present during IV tPa administration. Mode of arrival ( p = .001) and having a stroke nurse present ( p = .022) are significant predictors of door to needle time in the emergency department (ED). Conclusion: While many factors can influence door to needle times in the ED, we did not find NIHSS on arrival or time of day to be significant factors. Patients arriving to the ED by personal vehicle will have a significant delay in IV tPa administration, therefore emphasizing the importance of using EMS. Perhaps more importantly, collaborative efforts including the addition of a specialized stroke nurse significantly decreased time to IV tPa administration for AIS patients. With this dedicated role, accelerated triage and more effective management of AIS patients is accomplished, leading to decreased intervention times and potentially improving patient outcomes.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuichi Tonomura

Objective: The accuracy of prehospital diagnosis for stroke by emergency medical services (EMS) is improved using instruments for symptom recognition. On the other hand, prehospital misdiagnosis for stroke and subsequent delay in presentation to a hospital with stroke expertise play a critical role in the exclusion of potential therapeutic candidates. Our study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of pseudo-negative cases in prehospital triage for stroke/TIA by EMS. Methods: From April 2013 to April 2014, consecutive 644 acute stroke patients were transferred by EMS to our hospital. We investigated prehospital diagnosis, Cincinnati prehospital stroke scale (CPSS) by EMS, neurological symptoms and complaints of patients themselves at stroke onset. We also examined activity of daily life (ADL) and cognitive impairments before stroke onset, and stroke subtypes in final diagnoses. Results: Among 644 acute stroke patients, 36 patients (22 men, mean 72.5±4.4 years old) were pseudo-negative cases in prehospital triage for stroke and had no abnormalities in CPSS by EMS. When EMS arrived at emergency site, 12 patients (33%) had loss of consciousness. Before stroke onset, 6 patients (17%) had impaired ADL (modified Rankin Scale >2), and 5 (14%) cognitive impairment. Among the stroke subtypes, the proportion of small vessel occlusion (22.4%, p=0.0025) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) (25%, p=0.0021) was significant higher in pseudo negative cases in prehospital triage; on the other hand, intracranial hemorrage (11%, p=0.0028) was lower. In complaint of patients themselves at stroke onset, weakness in one or two extremities was reported in 20 patients (56%), abnormal speech/language in 13 (36%), however all of them were not clarified by EMS. Conclusion: This study showed that small vessel occlusion and TIA tend to be misdiagnosed in a prehospital triage by EMS. The complaint of patients themselves at stroke onset is important to prehospital diagnoses by EMS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Stoeckle ◽  
Carrie D Johnston ◽  
Deanna P Jannat-Khah ◽  
Samuel C Williams ◽  
Tanya M Ellman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection remain uncertain. Methods We conducted a matched retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with a COVID-19 illness in New York City between March 3, 2020, and May 15, 2020. We matched 30 people with HIV (PWH) with 90 control group patients without HIV based on age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Using electronic health record data, we compared demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and clinical outcomes between PWH and control patients. Results In our study, the median age (interquartile range) was 60.5 (56.6–70.0) years, 20% were female, 30% were black, 27% were white, and 24% were of Hispanic/Latino/ethnicity. There were no significant differences between PWH and control patients in presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms before hospitalization, laboratory markers, or radiographic findings on chest x-ray. More patients without HIV required a higher level of supplemental oxygen on presentation than PWH. There were no differences in the need for invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization, length of stay, or in-hospital mortality. Conclusions The clinical manifestations and outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection were not significantly different than patients without HIV co-infection. However, PWH were hospitalized with less severe hypoxemia, a finding that warrants further investigation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 205031211877671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali M Al Khathaami ◽  
Yasmeen O Mohammad ◽  
Fatimah S Alibrahim ◽  
Hoda A Jradi

Background: Tissue plasminogen activator within 4.5 h of onset is effective for acute ischemic stroke. However, only small proportion of patients is treated due to delayed presentation. We aimed to examine the factors associated with delays of stroke patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a 6-month period. An interviewer administered structured questionnaire addressed to the acute stroke patients or their relatives was used to explore the factors associated with delayed arrival. Results: A total of 227 patients attending the emergency department were interviewed. The mean age was 60.4 ± 15.6 years. Approximately 56.4% presented after 4.5 h of stroke onset. Factors associated with late arrival were being alone during the onset of stroke, not being transported in an ambulance, not knowing that they were experiencing a stroke, and residing outside the city of Riyadh. Conclusion: More than half of patients missed the golden hours for thrombolysis due to delayed presentation. Reasons include lack of knowledge, underuse of ambulance and difficult access to care. Urgent community-based interventions are needed to address these factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 104423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Y. Madhok ◽  
Kevin J. Keenan ◽  
Sara B. Cole ◽  
Christine Martin ◽  
J. Claude Hemphill

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keonjoo Lee ◽  
Jeong Min Kim ◽  
Keun-Hwa Jung ◽  
Jee-young Han ◽  
Jae-Kyu Roh

Background: The cessation of antithrombotic agent is related with increased thromboembolic events. However, the clinical characteristics of stroke after antithrombotics withdrawal and its impact on stroke outcome have not been studied. In this study we tried to evaluate clinical significance of antithrombotics withdrawal in stroke occurrence and outcome. Methods: Between January 1 st 2009, and March 1 st 2012, the acute stroke patients who admitted in Seoul National University Hospital within seven days after symptom onset were eligible in the study. We defined stroke after antithrombotics withdrawal (SAW) as those stroke patients who had maintained antiplatelet agent or anticoagulant regularly but ceased their medication before stroke onset. We reviewed their clinical characteristics as well as the reason of medication cessation, type of medication, and duration between medication hold and stroke onset. To evaluate the effect of antithrombotics withdrawal in stroke outcome, we compared SAW with stroke patients which occurred on regular medication. Results: Among 1635 acute stroke patients, 84 patients (5.2%) were identified as SAW during the inclusion period, with a mean age of 68.0±13.2 years including 49 male patients. The most common cause of medication cessation is poor compliance in 32 patients (37.7%), followed by pre-operation/procedure hold in 24, antithrombotics complication in 16, and doctor’s decision in 13. The 42 patients with SAW who had stroke within one month after medication cessation were compared with 261 patients who experienced cerebral infarction during regular medication. Stroke progression defined as 3 or more NIHSS worsening during admission was more prevalent in SAW patients than in patients with regular medication (14.3% vs. 5.0%, p=0.042). The patients with poor functional outcome defined as mRS of 5 and 6 at discharge were more common in SAW than in patients with regular medication (16.7% vs. 6.5%, p=0.043). Conclusion: This study shows that 5.2% of total stroke is due to medication withdrawal, and poor compliance is the most common cause of antithrombotics hold. Stroke after antithrombotics hold is associated with higher rate of stroke progression and poor outcome, implying exacerbated thromboembolic state.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Dong Wook Lee ◽  
Eui Chung Kim ◽  
Ok Jun Kim ◽  
Sung Wook Choi ◽  
Young Tae Park ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Olson-Mack ◽  
Jacqueline Reardon ◽  
Elton Hedden ◽  
Rowena Carino ◽  
Cynthia VanWyk ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Emergency Department (ED) physicians often manage acute stroke patients without Neurology support at the bedside. Without guidance, they are left to rapidly assess, diagnose and treat acute stroke patients with minimal follow up on treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes. We hypothesized that introducing a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as Stroke Champion into an ED that did not have access to in-house Neurology would drive awareness of acute stroke care, and positively change practice to decrease door to needle times. Methods: The NP started in the 24-bed ED in June 2012. The average daily census of the ED for 2012 was 135 patients per day, and from January to June 2012, ED physicians initiated 46 stroke codes. Although Neurologists were available via telephone, ED physicians were left to accurately assess and initiate stroke codes, determine eligibility, and order IV tPA. In collaboration with the Stroke Medical Director, the Stroke NP conducted multiple education sessions regarding timing metrics in acute stroke care and door to tPA goals with ED clinicians, radiology, lab and pharmacy departments. Data was shared with stakeholders monthly to drive performance improvement initiatives. Results: Rapid improvements were made in all metrics. Mean time to CT first image improved by 19.3 minutes (37.3 to 18.0 minutes) in 6 months, and to 14.7 minutes in 1 year. CT result mean turn-around-time decreased by 19 minutes (from 54.0 to 29.1 minutes) in the first 6 months, and by 22.6 minutes (from 54.0 to 26.0 minutes) at 12 months. Likewise, laboratory result turn-around-times dramatically decreased by a mean of 15.9 minutes (54.4 to 38.5 minutes) over 6 months, and by a mean of 23 minutes (54.4 to 31.0 minutes) within 12 months. IV tPA treatment rates increased from 5% to 14.4% of all ischemic strokes. Door to IV tPA treatment times decreased by a mean of 33.9 minutes (104.5 to 70.6 minutes) in 6 months, and by 46.8 minutes (from 104.5 to 57.7 minutes) within the year. Conclusions: Introducing an NP into the ED to serve as Stroke Champion can provide added support to improve care of acute stroke patients by expediting assessment and treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Madsen ◽  
Esther Choo ◽  
Todd Seigel ◽  
Danielle Palms ◽  
Brian Silver

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