Stroke: Diagnostic Evaluation

Ischemic stroke is an episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal cerebral, spinal, or retinal infarction. In patients with stroke symptoms, an urgent evaluation is advised. In the prehospital setting, early recognition of stroke signs allows appropriate triage of patients to hospitals that specialize in stroke management for thrombolysis or thrombectomy. In the hospital setting, evaluation of patients with suspected stroke includes clinical assessment, using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), imaging of the head and blood vessels of the neck, and assessing for the cause of stroke. Evaluation for the etiology may include laboratory tests, cardiac imaging, and cardiac rhythm monitoring. Early measures for secondary stroke prevention can be initiated.