Lesson 1Early complications of stroke and prevention: hemorrhagic transformation, aspiration pneumonia, malignant edema and monitoring strategiesCovers early issues like bleeding in the brain, lung infection from aspiration, and severe brain swelling, focusing on watch plans, prevention steps, and prompt neurosurgery or ICU actions.
Hemorrhagic transformation risk factorsAspiration screening and pneumonia preventionRecognition of malignant cerebral edemaNeurosurgical options and decompressionStandardized neurologic monitoring protocolsLesson 2Acute imaging selection and interpretation: noncontrast CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, MRI DWI/FLAIR basicsLooks at choosing and quickly reading noncontrast CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, and MRI DWI/FLAIR, stressing ruling out bleeding, blocked vessels, salvageable tissue mismatch, and ED scan guides.
Noncontrast CT for hemorrhage and early signsCT angiography for large vessel occlusionCT perfusion and core–penumbra conceptsMRI DWI/FLAIR mismatch and wake-up strokeImaging-based treatment decision pathwaysLesson 3Antithrombotic decisions when atrial fibrillation is present and anticoagulation status unknownHandles clot prevention options when heart rhythm issues are suspected but blood thinner status unclear, covering reversal needs, timing for thinners, and short-term antiplatelet or heparin plans.
Clarifying prior anticoagulant exposureUse of coagulation assays and drug levelsReversal strategies when status is unclearTiming of anticoagulation after strokeBridging with antiplatelet or heparinLesson 4Clinical presentation and localization of focal deficits (motor, language, visual)Goes over usual and unusual weakness, speech, and sight problems in stroke, matching them to blood vessel areas, with handy bedside tips for scans, treatment, and outcome talks.
Common motor patterns and vascular territoriesLanguage syndromes and dominant hemisphereVisual field defects and occipital pathwaysBrainstem and cerebellar stroke signsNeglect, apraxia, and higher cortical deficitsLesson 5Key guideline sources and landmark reviews for acute stroke (with year identifiers)Lists main guidebooks and big trials for acute stroke care, with years and key points, to back decisions on clot busters, clot removal, and stroke systems.
Major AHA/ASA acute stroke guidelinesEuropean and international guideline highlightsPivotal IV thrombolysis trials and yearsLandmark thrombectomy trials and yearsResources for ongoing updates and reviewsLesson 6Time windows for reperfusion therapy: IV thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy criteria and contraindicationsSpells out time limits and who qualifies for IV clot busters and mechanical clot removal, including scan-based picks, no-go factors, extended times, and safe handling of tricky cases.
Standard IV thrombolysis time windowsExtended-window thrombolysis selectionMechanical thrombectomy core criteriaMajor contraindications to reperfusionHandling uncertain onset or wake-up strokeLesson 7Blood pressure targets before and after reperfusion therapies and when to defer loweringLooks at blood pressure goals before and after clot treatments, when pushing it down harms, best drugs and adjustments, and tailoring for tough patients.
Pre-thrombolysis blood pressure thresholdsPost-thrombolysis blood pressure goalsBlood pressure goals after thrombectomyWhen to defer blood pressure loweringIV antihypertensive choices and titrationLesson 8Laboratory tests and cardiac evaluation in hyperacute stroke: glucose, CBC, coagulation, electrolytes, ECG, troponinOutlines must-do blood and heart tests in urgent stroke, like sugar, full blood count, clotting, salts, heart tracing, and heart damage marker, and how odd results affect treatment safety.
Critical point-of-care tests in the EDCoagulation studies and thrombolysis safetyElectrolyte and metabolic derangementsECG patterns and atrial fibrillation detectionTroponin elevation and neurocardiac injuryLesson 9Stroke mimics vs true ischemic stroke: seizures, hypoglycemia, migraine, Bell palsyTells apart common stroke lookalikes like fits, low sugar, migraines, and facial palsy from real stroke, with bedside hints, scan roles, and safe steps if unsure.
Seizure and postictal deficits as mimicsHypoglycemia and metabolic encephalopathyMigraine aura and hemiplegic migrainePeripheral facial palsy versus central signsImaging and labs to distinguish mimicsLesson 10When to call neurology/stroke team and criteria for ICU or stroke unit transferClears up when to call brain specialists or stroke team, ICU vs stroke ward rules, based on blood flow status, breathing risk, lesion size, and treatments.
Immediate stroke team activation triggersInformation to provide on initial consultICU admission criteria in acute strokeStroke unit or step-down indicationsReassessment and transfer escalation pathwaysLesson 11Initial ED stabilisation: airway, breathing, circulation, blood pressure management, glucose correctionSums up first ED steps for suspected stroke: airway safety, breathing and blood flow support, pressure control, sugar fix, keeping doors open for clot treatments.
Rapid primary survey and stroke triageAirway protection and oxygen targetsCirculatory support and IV accessBlood pressure management in the EDGlucose assessment and safe correction
