# Presentation: 461286

## Stroke and the ED

- Kurian Thomas, MD
- Department of Neurology

## The critical step in stroke

- Emergency Department (ED) evaluation is key for treatment of acute stroke
- Every member of ED staff vital in recognition and implementation
- Step by step process
- tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)

## Acute stroke treatment

- About 700,000 strokes annually
- Small percentage eligible for thrombolysis, but benefit has been shown
- Uncommon use = delays
- Ideal targets for time
- Theraputic nihlism

## tPA

- Only FDA approved medication
- fibrin-specific thrombolytic agent that activates plasminogen to form plasmin, a protease that cleaves fibrin.
- Efficacy in several trials following initial study
- Safety in community hospitals similar to trial centers. Hemorrhage rates of 6%
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria

## Slide 5

## Slide 6

## Inclusion criteria for tPA

-  Age ≥18 years
-  Clinical diagnosis of ischemic **stroke** causing a measurable neurologic deficit
-  Time of symptom onset well established to be <180 minutes before treatment would begin

## Exclusion criteria 

**1.**    Evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on noncontrast head CT
-  **2.**    Only minor or rapidly improving **stroke** symptoms
-  **3.**    High clinical suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage even with normal CT
**4.**    Active internal bleeding (e.g., gastrointestinal bleed or urinary bleeding within last 21 days)

## Exclusion criteria

**5.**    Known bleeding diathesis, including but not limited to:   Platelet count 100,000/mm.  Patient has received heparin within 48 hours and had an elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (greater than upper limit of normal for laboratory). Recent use of anticoagulant (e.g., warfarin sodium) and elevated prothrombin time >15 seconds
**6.**    Within 3 months of intracranial surgery, serious head trauma, or previous **stroke**

## Exclusion criteria

-  **7.**    Within 14 days of major surgery or serious trauma
-  **8.**    Recent arterial puncture at noncompressible site
-  **9.**    Lumbar puncture within 7 days
**10.**  History of intracranial hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, or aneurysm
**11.**  Witnessed seizure at **stroke** onset
**12.**  Recent acute myocardial infarction
**13.**  On repeated measurements, systolic pressure <185 mm Hg or diastolic pressure <110 mm Hg at time of treatment, requiring aggressive treatment to reduce blood pressure to within these limits

## Target time frames

- Door to physician-10 min
- Door to CT completion-25 min
- Door to CT reading-45 min
- Door to treatment-60 min
- Access to neurologic expertise-15 min
- Access to neurosurgical expertise-2 hr

## ED procedures

- notification- prior to arrival or not
- Triage nurse- suspect stroke
**Immediate Physician Notification**

## Slide 13

## Labs

- Rapid blood glucose level. Accucheck
- CBC
- Coagulation profile
- BMP
- Type and Screen
- These results may be sent to transferring  Neurology team

## The Lancet Neurology - Volume 5, Issue 9 (September 2006)   

## Slide 16

## Early CT changes

-  Loss of insular ribbon
- Loss of gray-white interface
- Loss of sulci
- Acute hypo density
- Mass effect
- Dense MCA sign

##    rt-PA Treatment Based on CT Findings

**   **_**CT Findings**_**                **_**Recommendations**_
-    None 					 Treat
-    Subtle < 1/3 MCA 		 	 Treat
- 	Subtle > 1/3 MCA 			 Probably treat
- 	Hypodensity < 1/3 MCA 	 Probably treat
- 	Hypodensity > 1/3 MCA 	Don’t treat

## Give or not give tPA

- risks of potential benefits of rtPA should be discussed whenever possible with the patient and family
- Don’t give to severe stroke (NIH Stroke Scale >22).
- BP > 185/110mmHg          Lower with IV labetolol 10mg x 2 doses. If not sustained, don’t give tPA

## Dose     

- Intravenous rtPA (0.9 mg/kg; maximum of 90 mg), with 10% of the dose given as a bolus over 1 minute, followed by an infusion lasting 60 minutes
- Pharmacy to reconstitute. Don’t wait for all investigations

## What next

- While infusing:
- Monitor for BP elevations and treat with IV labetolol (10mg) or IV hydralazine if above 180/105.
- Monitor for clinical deterioration. If it occurs, then stop the IV infusion. CT head
- Monitor for bleeding anywhere.
- No catheters/ feeding tubes after infusing.

## What next

- Transfer to hospital with Neurology ICU service.
- Contact transferring ED, Neurology resident and Neurointensive attending on call.
- Disk of CT scan to be made and sent. Unofficial read if time permits
- VA ED arranges ambulance