Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
09:52
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Translating new knowledge into practices: reconceptualising stroke as an emergency condition
1Center for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. stephanie.snow@manchester.ac.uk
Chronic Illness
|November 7, 2012
Summary
Recognizing stroke as an emergency condition spurred the creation of new clinical pathways. Protocols, initially a local solution, overcame professional barriers and were widely adopted for stroke care.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Health Policy
- Implementation Science
Background:
- Historically, stroke was viewed as a non-treatable condition, hindering the adoption of acute interventions.
- The reconceptualization of stroke as a medical emergency necessitated the development of novel clinical management strategies.
Observation:
- The study examined the development and adoption of stroke clinical pathways and protocols in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
- Implementation challenges were primarily organizational and professional, not scientific or technological.
Findings:
- Local protocols for paramedics and emergency staff, designed for stroke patients, were widely adopted across the UK and internationally.
- The historical perception of stroke as untreatable presented a significant barrier to implementing acute treatment protocols.
Implications:
- Understanding the shift in clinical practice for stroke provides insights into translating research into practice.
- Protocols serve as crucial tools for knowledge transfer, bridging clinical communities and establishing a new identity for stroke care.
- This case study highlights the successful transfer of a local innovation in emergency stroke management to a broader scale.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Stroke: Introduction and Types
A stroke is an acute neurological event caused by the sudden disruption of cerebral blood flow, leading to rapid loss of neuronal function. Neurons depend on continuous oxygen and glucose supply, so even brief interruptions can cause irreversible injury within minutes. Strokes are classified into ischemic and hemorrhagic types.Ischemic StrokeIschemic strokes are most common and occur due to arterial occlusion, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This leads to energy failure, ionic...
01:15Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
01:17Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
01:23Atherosclerosis IV: Nursing Management
Nursing management for a patient with arteriosclerosis involves a comprehensive approach focusing on lifestyle modification, disease monitoring, education, and symptomatic care. Here is an overview of effective nursing strategies:Assessment and Monitoring: Initial and ongoing assessments are crucial. Nurses must document the patient's medical history, including any hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and other cardiovascular diseases. Assessments also cover family history and lifestyle...
01:26Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by a temporary, focal reduction in cerebral blood flow. Although symptoms resemble those of an ischemic stroke, the interruption in perfusion is short-lived and does not cause permanent infarction. TIAs are clinically important because they often serve as early warning events for future stroke.Mechanisms of Transient Cerebral IschemiaTransient cerebral ischemia may arise through several mechanisms. One...
01:29Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...