| *Dx: Ischemic vs. Hemorrhagic. Can localize stroke based on symptoms. NCCT head to rule out hemorrhage; CTA, MRI to look for filling defects and ischemic injury; TTE, telemetry to evaluate for afib. Differential includes TIA, seizure. Stroke in a young IV drug user with a murmur, think '''mycotic aneurysm'''. | | *Dx: Ischemic vs. Hemorrhagic. Can localize stroke based on symptoms. NCCT head to rule out hemorrhage; CTA, MRI to look for filling defects and ischemic injury; TTE, telemetry to evaluate for afib. Differential includes TIA, seizure. Stroke in a young IV drug user with a murmur, think '''mycotic aneurysm'''. |
− | *Tx: For ischemic stroke, give tPA within 4.5 hrs of symptom onset, otherwise hep gtt. If large occluding clot in major vessel, can do endovascular thrombectomy within 24 hrs. Contraindications to tPA include recent major surgery, history of hemorrhagic stroke, BP >180/105 mmHg, Plt < 100k, INR > 1.7, age < 18, intrabdominal bleed. Use caution in the 3-4.5 hr window in patients over 80, with DM, with a recent stroke, or on DOACs. '''Keep BP below 180/105 mmHg to avoid hemorrhagic transformation''' and avoid starting anticoagulation or anti platelet agents in the first 24 hrs after tPA. Prevention includes aspirin ('''even if patient has history of recurrent falls'''), statin, clopidogrel, blood pressure control, rate/rhythm control or ablation/Watchman for Afib, weight loss, diabetes control, and smoking cessation. Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke includes blood pressure control, surgical decompression (ventricular shunt or craniotomy). | + | *Tx: For ischemic stroke, give tPA within 4.5 hrs of symptom onset if no contraindications. If large vessel occlusion, can do endovascular thrombectomy within 24 hrs. Contraindications to tPA include recent major surgery, history of hemorrhagic stroke, BP >180/105 mmHg, Plt < 100k, INR > 1.7, age < 18, intrabdominal bleed. Use caution in the 3-4.5 hr window in patients over 80, with DM, with a recent stroke, or on DOACs. '''Keep BP below 180/105 mmHg to avoid hemorrhagic transformation''' and avoid starting anticoagulation or anti platelet agents in the first 24 hrs after tPA. Prevention includes aspirin ('''even if patient has history of recurrent falls'''), statin, clopidogrel, blood pressure control ('''most important'''), rate/rhythm control or ablation/Watchman for Afib, weight loss, diabetes control, '''start ppx dose heparin between 24-48 hrs (if not already on thrombolytics, therapeutic anticoagulation, or DAPT)''', and smoking cessation. Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke includes blood pressure control, surgical decompression (ventricular shunt or craniotomy). |