Approach to the Critical Patient

Time critical priorities

Immediate stabilization

Stroke system activation

Immediate decision points

High risk features

Immediate exclusion of hemorrhage and mimics

Monitoring targets

Physiologic targets

History

Symptom characterization

Index event narrative

Timing and context

Vascular risk profile

Vascular risk factors

Cardioembolic risk factors

Arterial pathology risk

Medication and bleeding risk

Current antithrombotics

Bleeding risk modifiers

Recent procedures

Physical Exam

Neurologic assessment

Neuro status baseline

Vascular and cardiac exam

Vital signs

Cardiac findings

Vascular findings

Pitfalls

Commonly missed signs

Differential Diagnosis

Vascular and neurologic causes

Cerebrovascular causes

Arterial pathology

Mimics

Neurologic mimics

Metabolic and systemic mimics

Key differentiators

Clinical clues

Laboratory Tests

Core labs

Baseline safety and mimics

Coagulation and cardiac labs

Antithrombotic context

Cardiac assessment

Secondary prevention labs

Risk factor profiling

Special circumstance labs

Targeted testing

Diagnostic Tests

Scoring Systems

Risk stratification tools

MRI

Brain MRI with diffusion weighted imaging

CT

Noncontrast CT head

CT angiography head and neck

Ultrasound

Carotid duplex ultrasound

Echocardiography

Cardiac rhythm monitoring

Disposition

Level of care

Admission and observation selection

Follow up timing

Rapid outpatient pathways

Treatment

Antiplatelet strategy

Antiplatelet selection

Anticoagulation for cardioembolic sources

Atrial fibrillation or other cardioembolic source

Statin therapy

Lipid lowering

Blood pressure and metabolic management

Blood pressure management

Diabetes management

Lifestyle and risk modification

Carotid and structural interventions

Symptomatic carotid stenosis

Cervical artery dissection

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy considerations

Geriatric

Older adult considerations

Pediatrics

Pediatric considerations

Background

Epidemiology

Epidemiologic facts

Pathophysiology

Mechanistic framework

Therapeutic Considerations

Treatment rationale

Patient Discharge Instructions

copy discharge instructions

Discharge information set

References

Clinical guidelines and landmark evidence

Source list

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.