Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Cerebral arterial vasospasm (CVS) is a common complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage strongly associated with neurological deterioration and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The utility of screening for CVS as a surrogate for early detection of DCI, especially in patients without clinical signs of DCI, remains uncertain. ⋯ Patients asymptomatic before screening have low rates of CVS and seem to be at negligible risk of developing DCI. Routine screening of asymptomatic patients seems to have little utility. Screening may still be considered in patients with possible symptoms of DCI or those with examinations too poor to clinically detect symptoms because finding CVS may be useful for risk stratification and guiding management.
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In acute ischemic stroke, time from onset to tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment (OTT) is a major determinant of outcome. To reduce OTT, clinical trials have been undertaken evaluating prehospital cerebral imaging with mobile computed tomographic scanners. Furthermore, blood biomarkers may allow rapid differentiation between ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage before hospital admission. How such treatment strategies translate into clinical benefit has not been specifically evaluated. ⋯ Reducing the OTT has robust beneficial effects for acute stroke patients. Prehospital tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment without brain imaging may become conceivable under several preconditions, including a point-of-care test with >75% to 80% sensitivity to detect intracerebral hemorrhage and a time gain of >32 to 40 minutes. Ethical implications remain to be addressed.