Emergency MedicineNeurology
Acute Stroke / TIA Assessment
Rapid assessment, diagnosis, and management of suspected acute ischaemic stroke and TIA using FAST, ROSIER, and NIHSS tools.
Source: NICE NG128; RCP Stroke Guidelines 2023
Step 1 of ~12
action
Immediate Stroke Assessment — FAST
FAST screen:
F — Face drooping (asymmetric smile)
A — Arm weakness (drift or inability to raise)
S — Speech disturbance (slurred, inappropriate, absent)
T — Time to call 999 / activate stroke pathway
If FAST positive → direct to CT imaging. Target: door-to-CT scan ≤25 minutes.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Aspirin (Loading Dose) · Antiplatelet — ACS / Ischaemic Stroke
- Alteplase (tPA) · Thrombolytic — Ischaemic Stroke / Massive PE
- Insulin (IV Infusion — ICU Glucose Control) · Insulin — ICU Glucose Management
- Sodium Chloride 3% (Hypertonic Saline) · Hypertonic Electrolyte Solution — ICP/Hyponatraemia Management
- Glyceryl Trinitrate (Sublingual / IV) · Nitrate / Acute Angina
- Dobutamine (Acute HF / Stress Echo) · Inotrope / Acute Heart Failure
Pathways
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
- Syncope Assessment · ESC 2018 Syncope Guidelines; NICE NG109
- Acute Chest Pain · NICE CG95; ESC 2023 ACS Guidelines
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.