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Acute Stroke Care & Treatment Flashcards

7 cards from real ASC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Acute Stroke Care & Treatment flashcards as text
  1. Which of the following is the MOST common cause of death in the first 30 days after ischemic stroke?

    Answer: Aspiration pneumonia and other medical complications

    Medical complications, especially aspiration pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, are the leading causes of early post-stroke mortality.

  2. Dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + clopidogrel) for 21 days is recommended after which type of acute ischemic stroke?

    Answer: Minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA (NIHSS ≤ 3, ABCD2 ≥ 4)

    POINT and CHANCE trials support 21-day dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + clopidogrel) for minor stroke or high-risk TIA to reduce early recurrence.

  3. What is the NIHSS score range that generally indicates a moderate-to-severe stroke?

    Answer: 5–15

    NIHSS scores of 5–15 indicate moderate stroke severity, while 16–20 is moderately severe and >20 is severe stroke.

  4. A patient with acute ischemic stroke and known atrial fibrillation is NOT a tPA candidate. When should anticoagulation typically be initiated?

    Answer: Based on infarct size and neurological severity, typically 2–14 days post-stroke

    Anticoagulation timing after cardioembolic stroke depends on infarct size; small infarcts may allow earlier initiation while large infarcts require delay to reduce hemorrhagic risk.

  5. Which statement about Wake-Up stroke (symptom onset unknown) is CORRECT regarding thrombolysis eligibility?

    Answer: MRI DWI-FLAIR mismatch can identify patients eligible for tPA within 4.5 hours of awakening

    The WAKE-UP trial showed that DWI-FLAIR mismatch on MRI identifies stroke onset likely within 4.5 hours, enabling tPA use in selected wake-up stroke patients.

  6. Which of the following is the CORRECT grading for complete absence of perfusion on angiography using the TICI scale?

    Answer: TICI 0

    TICI 0 indicates no perfusion past the point of occlusion; TICI 2b/3 indicates successful reperfusion in thrombectomy trials.

  7. A stroke patient develops fever (38.5°C) 18 hours after admission. What is the recommended management?

    Answer: Administer antipyretics and identify and treat the underlying cause

    Fever worsens neurological outcomes post-stroke; treat with antipyretics (acetaminophen) and investigate for infectious sources such as pneumonia or UTI.