급성기 허혈성 뇌졸중은 발생 후 치료가능한 시간이 짧으므로, 허혈성 뇌경색의 신속한 진단과 평가가 매우 중요하다. 체계적인 프로토콜과 뇌졸중 팀구성이임상적진단, 진단검사의수행, 조기치료의 결정을 신속하게 할 수 있다. 병력, 일반적인 신체검사, 신경학적 검사로 구성된 임상적 진단은 기본적인 핵심 평가 요소이고, 이에 근거한 임상 진단이 신속하게 이루어져야 한다. 최종 목적은 뇌졸중을 확진하고 재조합 조직 플라스미노겐 활성제(rtPA)와 같은 급성기 치료의 적응증과 금기증을 확인하는 것이다. 응급 치료에서 시간이 중요한 변수이므로 진단 목적의 검사들은 제한된 수만 추천된다.
- An organized protocol for the emergency evaluation of patients with suspected stroke is recommended
(AHA/ASA: LOE III, GOR B). The goal is to complete an evaluation and to decide treatment within 60
minutes of the patient's arrival in an ED. Designation of an acute stroke team that includes physicians,
nurses, and laboratory/radiology personnel is encouraged. Patients with stroke should have a careful
clinical assessment, including neurological examination.
- 1) The use of a stroke rating scale, preferably the NIHSS, is recommended (AHA/ASA: LOE III, GOR B).
2) The initial neurological assessment should document the localization of the likely cerebral area
affected (RCP: LOE IV, GOR C).
3) A full medical assessment should be undertaken and multidisciplinary assessment considered for all
acute stroke patients to define the nature of the event, the need for investigation, further management,
and the need for rehabilitation (EUSI: LOE IV GOR C).
- A limited number of hematologic, coagulation, and biochemistry tests are recommended during the initial emergency evaluation (Table 1) (AHA/ASA, EUSI, SIGN: LOE IV, GOR C).
- Patients with clinical or other evidence of acute cardiac or pulmonary disease may warrant chest X-ray
(AHA/ASA, EUSI: LOE IV, GOR C).
- An ECG is recommended because of the high incidence of heart disease in patients with stroke
(AHA/ASA LOE III, GOR B; EUSI, SIGN: LOE IV, GOR C).
- Most patients with stroke do not need a chest X-ray as part of their initial evaluation (AHA/ASA: LOE III,
GOR B).
- Most patients with stroke do not need an examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (AHA/ASA: LOE IV, GOR
C). The yield of brain imaging is very high for detection of intracranial hemorrhage. Examination of the
cerebrospinal fluid may be indicated for evaluation of a patient with a stroke that may be secondary to an
infectious illness.
Table 1. Immediate Diagnostic Studies: Evaluation of a Patient With Suspected Acute Ischemic Stroke
All patients |
Noncontrast brain CT or brain MRI |
Blood glucose |
Serum electrolytes/renal function tests |
ECG |
Markers of cardiac ischemia |
Complete blood count, including platelet count* |
Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (INR)* |
Activated partial thromboplastin time* |
Oxygen saturation |
Selected patients |
Hepatic function tests |
Toxicology screen |
Blood alcohol level |
Pregnancy test |
Arterial blood gas tests (if hypoxia is suspected) |
Chest radiography (if lung disease is suspected) |
Lumbar puncture (if subarachnoid hemorrhage is suspected and CT scan is negative for blood) |
Electroencephalogram (if seizures are suspected) |
* Although it is desirable to know the results of these tests before giving rtPA, thrombolytic therapy should not be delayed while awaiting the results unless
(1) there is clinical suspicion of a bleeding abnormality or thrombocytopenia,
(2) the patient has received heparin or warfarin, or
(3) use of anticoagulants is not known.