CVA are amongst the top 5 causes of death, and number 1 cause of disability in N.A. Given the associated morbidity and mortality, rapid recognition and aggressive management is of the utmost importance. 

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA), characterizes stroke as a neurological deficit attributed to an acute focal injury of the central nervous system (CNS) by a vascular cause, including cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). For simplicity though, it can be umbrellaed into either ischemic or hemorrhagic in nature. 

The early detection of stroke is paramount for patient care and positive outcomes. Obviously, this begins with the lay public and early activation of 911, but it’s important for paramedics to properly and accurately diagnose and transport to definitive care. 

Join us as we chat with Dr. Grant Stotts to discuss all things in the prehospital world of stroke: What is a stroke? How do we diagnose it prehospitally? How should we be treating them? What happens once we get to the ED?