neurology emergency-medicine
Simplified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (sNIHSS)
Abbreviated 6-item version of the NIHSS for rapid stroke severity assessment. Correlates well with full NIHSS for triage and thrombolysis decisions.
Used in: Stroke & TIA
Score interpretation
Minor stroke
→ Consider IV tPA eligibility; NIHSS-guided thrombolysis
Moderate stroke
→ IV tPA + thrombectomy evaluation; stroke unit admission
Moderate-severe stroke
→ Mechanical thrombectomy assessment; urgent neurovascular imaging
Severe stroke
→ Emergency thrombectomy; intensive monitoring; goals of care discussion
Interpretation bands for the sNIHSS. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Drugs
- Tenecteplase (Stroke) · Stroke Thrombolysis
- Alteplase (STEMI Thrombolysis) · Thrombolytic / STEMI
- Streptokinase (STEMI Thrombolysis) · Thrombolytic / STEMI
- Aspirin (Loading Dose) · Antiplatelet — ACS / Ischaemic Stroke
- Alteplase (tPA) · Thrombolytic — Ischaemic Stroke / Massive PE
- Edoxaban (AF Stroke Prevention / VTE) · Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor (DOAC)
Pathways
- Acute Stroke / TIA Assessment · NICE NG128; RCP Stroke Guidelines 2023
- Status Epilepticus (Adults) · NICE CG137; ESEM guidelines; RCP Neurology Guidelines
- Suspected Subarachnoid Haemorrhage · NICE NG228; RCEM 2023; AHA/ASA 2023
- Adult Head Injury · NICE NG232 (2023)
- Bell's Palsy / Facial Nerve Palsy · ENT UK 2017; AAN
- Vertigo Workup · ENT UK; NICE CKS
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.