Emergency Room Diagnostic studies help determine the most likely cause of stroke and allow rapid treatment of complications.
Electrocardiography can demonstrate cardiac arrhythmias that reflect the cause of stroke.
Clinically silent myocardial infarction can also be detected. A chest x-ray is done to look for cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, or aspiration. In comatose patients, skull and lateral cervical spine x-rays are performed to search for a fracture or dislocation. Avoid giving food or liquid orally until the risk for aspiration has been assessed. Anticonvulsants are not begun prophylactically, but for observed seizures or subclinical seizures identified by EEG in the comatose patient.