Critical Initial Steps in Stroke Management

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📺 Teaching Video:
https://youtu.be/C33tUAYn_SM&list=PLOlpsJ0eDlASRw1LywI2iGfzDTqxlAYFJ

Critical Initial Steps in Stroke Management

Importance of Glucose Check  
- Always check fingerstick blood glucose in patients with suspected stroke.  
- Hypoglycemia can mimic or worsen stroke symptoms.  
- Treat detected hypoglycemia promptly to avoid diagnostic errors.
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Brain Imaging in Acute Stroke  
- Perform non-contrast CT or MRI as soon as possible.  
- Aim for brain imaging within 20 minutes of hospital arrival.  
- Imaging helps rule out hemorrhage and guides treatment planning.
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Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT)  
- For ischemic stroke patients ineligible for intravenous fibrinolysis, consider EVT.  
- EVT is especially beneficial for large vessel occlusions with favorable imaging profiles.
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Time Window for EVT  
- EVT is supported within 6 hours of symptom onset.  
- Selected patients with favorable imaging may be treated up to 24 hours after onset.
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Transfer to EVT-Capable Centers  
- Transfer eligible patients if EVT is not available onsite.  
- Expedite transfers to achieve EVT within 3 hours of initial hospital arrival.  
- Faster EVT correlates with better functional outcomes.

📺 Teaching Video:
https://youtu.be/C33tUAYn_SM&list=PLOlpsJ0eDlASRw1LywI2iGfzDTqxlAYFJ