Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. All doctors should have a basic knowledge about stroke management. This presentation gives a summary of treatment options in acute brain stroke.

1. MANAGEMENT OF
ACUTE STROKE
DR SUDHIR KUMAR MD DM
SENIOR CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST
APOLLO HOSPITALS, HYDERABAD

2. AIMS OF ACUTE STROKE
TREATEMNT
 Screen patients rapidly, identify those eligible for
thrombolysis, as thrombolysis is time-bound
 Thrombolysis is the only approved treatment for acute
ischemic stroke,
 Prevent infarct progression or recurrence,
 Optimum control of blood pressure and blood sugar,
 Prevent aspiration pneumonia and DVT,
 Start physiotherapy early.

3. INTRAVENOUS THROMBOLYSIS
 IV thrombolysis can be done for eligible patients
within the first four and half hours after onset,
 Agent used: tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
 Dose: 0.9 mg per kg body weight (maximum 90 mg)
 10% of total dose given as IV bolus over 1 minute,
remaining 90% given as infusion over 60 minutes
 Monitoring of BP, pulse and neurological status should
be done for 24 hours in stroke unit/ICU

4. INCLUSION CRITERIA for IV tPA
 Duration less than 4.5 hours from symptom onset,
 Absence of bleed on CT/MRI brain scan,
 Symptoms are due to stroke (stroke mimics have
been excluded)

5. EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR IV
tPA
 Time of onset uncertain, or duration more than 4.5 hours after
onset of symptoms,
 Presence of blood on brain scan,
 Symptoms have completely resolved (TIA)
 Very minor symptoms such as tingling or mild facial weakness
(NIHSS score <4)
 Severe stroke (NIHSS score>24)
 Infarct occupying more than ½ of hemisphere or dense MCA
sign
 SBP>180 mmHg or DBP>105 mmHg, despite treatment

6. WHO CAN THROMBOLYSE?
 Neurologist, Internal Medicine specialist or ER
physicians can thrombolyse,
 In a recent study, door-to-needle time reduced from
54 minutes to 28 minutes, when ER physicians were
permitted to thrombolyse (as compared to
Neurologists/Internists).
 Thrombolysis improves functional outcome and
reduces morbidity at 3 and 6 months,
 Even though IV thrombolysis is effective within 4 and
half hours, every effort should be made to administer
it at the earliest.

7. STROKE TREATMENT
TIMELINES
 Evaluation by ER doctor- 10 min,
 Stroke team Neurologist contacted- 15 min,
 Brain scan done- 25 min,
 Interpretation of scan/labs ready- 45 min,
 Start of treatment- 60 minutes from arrival (door-to-
needle time)

8. THROMBOLYSIS WITH
TENECTEPLASE
 Good alternative to alteplase. Dose: 0.25 mg/kg body
weight, max dose 25 mg, as IV bolus)
 Approved for acute stroke thrombolysis within 3
hours of symptom onset,
 Early neurological outcome (within 24 hours) is better
with tenecteplase,
 Outcome at 90 days, bleeding complication rate and
mortality rate are similar to alteplase,
 Cost of tenecteplase is lesser.

9. ENDOVASCULAR
INTERVENTIONS
 Patients eligible for IV tPA should receive IV tPA, even if
endovascular treatments are being considered (Class 1,
Level of evidence A)
 Patients should receive endovascular treatment with a
stent retriever, if all the following criteria are met:
1. Pre-stroke mRS score 0 or 1,
2. Acute ischemic stroke receiving IV tPA within 4.5 hours
as per the guidelines,
3. Causative occlusion of ICA or proximal MCA (M1)

10. ENDOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS
(2)
4. Age 18 years or more,
5. NIHSS score 6 or more,
6. ASPECTS of 6 or more,
7. Treatment can be initiated within 6 hours of onset
(groin puncture)

11. ENDOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS
(3)
 Procedures should be done as early as possible to
ensure maximum benefit, and definitely before 6
hours of stroke onset (Class 1, Level of evidence B)
 Benefits of endovascular therapy beyond six hours of
stroke onset is uncertain
 In selected patients with anterior circulation occlusion,
who have contraindications for IV tPA; endovascular
therapy with stent retrievers within 6 hours of stroke
onset is a reasonable alternative. (Class IIa, Level of
evidence C)

12. ENDOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS
(4)
 Endovascular therapy with stent retrievers may be
reasonable in patients with occlusion of MCA (M2 or
M3 portions, ACA, vertebral, basilar or PCAs), if
procedure can be started within 6 hours. (IIb,
Evidence C),
 May be reasonable in children below 18, in selected
cases,
 Technical goal should be a TICI grade 2b/3
angiographic result to maximize benefits.

13. ANTIPLATELETS AND ANTICOAGULANTS
 All patients with ischemic stroke should receive aspirin
or clopidogrel within 24-48 hours,
 Those who received tPA, should receive
aspirin/clopidogrel after 24 hours,
 Urgent anticoagulation is not recommended with the aim
of preventing recurrence or halting stroke progression or
for improving outcomes.
 Anticoagulation can not be used as a substitute for
thrombolysis in eligible patients.
 Vasodilators such as pentoxifylline are not
recommended in acute stroke.

14. PIRACETAM IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE
 Piracetam at a dose of 4.8 grams/day for a period of
12 weeks was found to be effective in reducing post-
stroke aphasia. (Clinical Neuropharmacology, 1994)
 Piracetam 2400 mg twice daily improves the cerebral
blood flow in left transverse temporal gyrus, left
triangular part of inferior frontal gyrus and left
posterior superior temporal gyrus, based on a PET-
based study. (Stroke, 2000)
 Piracetam was found to be useful in post-ischemic
palatal myoclonus. (J Int Med Res, 1999)

15. CITICOLINE IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE
 Oral citicoline at a dose of 500-2000 mg per day,
started within 24 hours, increases the probability of
complete recovery at three months. (Stroke, 2002)
 2000 mg per day was found to be the most effective
dose.
 Citicoline provides maximum benefit to patients with
less severe strokes (NIHSS<14), older people (>70
years) and those who have not been thrombolysed
with rt-PA. (J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis, 2014)

16. SUPPORTIVE CARE OF ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS
 Cardiac monitoring,
 Maintaining adequate oxygenation,
 Protection of airway,
 Treatment of hypertension,
 Treatment of fever,
 Treatment of hyperglycemia

17. CARDIAC MONITORING
 Cardiac monitoring should be done for 24 hours after
acute stroke,
 Aim is to pick up atrial fibrillation and other cardiac
arrhythmia
 Class I, Level of evidence B

18. BLOOD PRESSURE
CONTROL
Target BP in those thrombolysed (for first 24 hours)
 Target systolic BP<180 mmHg
 Target diastolic BP<105 mmHg
Target BP in those who are not thrombolysed
 Systolic BP<220 mmHg
 Diastolic BP<120 mmHg

19. AIRWAY AND OXYGENATION
 Airway support and ventilatory assistance are
required for those with decreased consciousness and
those who have bulbar dysfunction,
 Supplemental oxygenation should be provided to
maintain oxygen saturation >94%
 Class I, Level of evidence C

20. Hyperglycemia and Acute
Stroke (1)
 Among patients admitted with stroke, 40-50% have
diabetes mellitus (Stroke, 2009)
 Additional 20% have hyperglycemia without any
history of diabetes, termed as stress hyperglycemia,
 So, a total 0f 60-70% of patients with acute stroke
have hyperglycemia at admission.
 Admission plasma glucose>110 mg% and HbA1C>
6.2% are good predictors of (undiagnosed) diabetes
mellitus in patients with acute stroke, (Age Ageing,
2004)

21. Hyperglycemia and Acute
Stroke (2)
 Patients with hyperglycemia and acute stroke have
prolonged hospital stay and incur higher
hospitalization costs (Neurology 2002)
 Hyperglycemia at admission in patients with stroke
results in poor functional outcome at 3 months
(Neurology,1999)
 Hyperglycemia independently increases the risk of
death at 90 days, 1 year and 6 years after stroke (all
p<0.01) (Neurology 2002)

22. American Stroke Association
Guideline
 Maintain plasma glucose levels within 140 to 180
mg% in the first 24 hours,
 Close monitoring should be done to detect
hypoglycemia,
 For patients being considered for IV thrombolysis,
blood sugar should be within 50-500 mg% range.
(Stroke,2013)

23. CARE IN STROKE UNIT/ICU
(1)
 Stroke team, and stroke unit with rehabilitation is
recommended,
 Early mobilization of less severely affected patients is
recommended,
 Swallowing should be assessed before starting eating
or drinking,
 Patients with suspected pneumonia or UTI should be
treated with antibiotics,

24. CARE IN STROKE UNIT/ICU
(2)
 Immobilized patients should be started on LMW
heparin to prevent DVT,
 Intermittent compression devices should be used in
those who cannot receive heparin,
 Concomitant medical illnesses should be treated,
 Temperature should be kept normal, and
hyperthermia above 38o should be treated with
antipyretics.

25. MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE NEUROLOGICAL
COMPLICATIONS (1)
 Raised ICP (due to large infarcts, hemorrhagic
transformation)- mannitol, mechanical ventilation,
decompressive surgery
 Malignant MCA infarction- decompressive
hemicraniectomy
 Large cerebellar infarcts- posterior fossa
decompression
 Acute hydrocephalus- external ventricular drain
 Better to have neurosurgical facilities while managing
acute stroke

26. MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE NEUROLOGICAL
COMPLICATIONS (2)
 Seizures- Seizures can occur in 2-33% of acute
stroke patients
 Prophylactic anti-epileptic medications are not needed
in all,
 Those who get seizures can be treated in a manner
similar to other seizure patients (non-stroke setting)

27. SUMMARY
 IV thrombolysis is the only approved treatment for acute stroke,
 Aspirin should be administered as early as possible (24-48
hours)
 Piracetam/Citicoline are effective and safe agents in several
cases of acute stroke,
 Appropriate control of BP and sugars is needed
 Maintain adequate airway, oxygenation and temperature
 Prevent aspiration pneumonia and DVT
 Recognize and treat acute neurological complications

28. COMMENTS/QUERIES
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