Where Are Lvo Stroke Victims Taken For Treatment?

Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) strokes are a type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a major artery in the brain is blocked. They are considered one of the most severe types of strokes, accounting for approximately 24% to 46% of acute ischemic strokes. Due to the severity of LVO strokes, patients often need to be transported to comprehensive centers equipped to handle them. The effectiveness of treatment is very time-sensitive, so it is crucial for EMS systems to play an integral role in identifying and expediting appropriate patients to receive the necessary procedures. This includes EMS pre-notification, rapid triage, and direct transfer to CT scans and treatment. Mobile technology and guideline development are also evolving to help improve the coordination of stroke care and reduce onset-to-treatment times.

People having an LVO stroke should be taken to a hospital with interventional radiology suites or a cath lab

People having a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke should be taken to a hospital with interventional radiology suites or a cath lab. LVO strokes are considered one of the most severe types of strokes, and rapid treatment is critical. The accepted standard of care for treating LVO is a mechanical thrombectomy, which involves making a small incision and threading a catheter with tiny instruments to the site of the blockage to retrieve the clot. This advanced procedure can only be performed in hospitals with interventional radiology suites or cath labs.

Not all stroke centers are capable of delivering endovascular therapy, so it is crucial to identify LVO strokes in the field and transport patients to the appropriate facility as quickly as possible, even if it means taking them to a hospital that is further away. Time is of the essence when it comes to treating LVO strokes, and delays in treatment can lead to significant risks of serious disabilities like paralysis.

To identify LVO strokes, paramedics use prehospital stroke scales such as the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale or the BE FAST. These scales assess for symptoms such as facial palsy, slurred speech, arm or leg motor function, gaze deviation, aphasia, and agnosia. The presence of cortical signs, such as gaze deviation, aphasia, and agnosia, indicates a likely LVO stroke, and these patients should be transported to a stroke center with endovascular capabilities.

In summary, people having an LVO stroke should be taken to a hospital with interventional radiology suites or a cath lab to receive the necessary advanced treatment and improve patient outcomes. The identification of LVO strokes in the field and prompt transport to the appropriate facility are crucial for the best possible patient care.

LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with endovascular capabilities

A large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is a serious medical emergency and a severe type of stroke that occurs when there is a blockage in a major artery in the brain. As with all strokes, rapid treatment is critical for LVO stroke patients. The recommended treatment for LVO strokes is a procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy, which involves making a small incision and using a catheter to remove the clot. This advanced treatment is only available at certain hospitals with endovascular capabilities.

When a person is suspected of having an LVO stroke, it is crucial that emergency services are called right away. EMS workers are specially trained to detect the signs of an LVO stroke, which can include sudden loss of balance, blurred or double vision, facial drooping, weakness in one arm, and slurred speech. These "vague symptoms" can often be difficult for the average person to recognise, which is why it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible.

Once EMS workers assess the patient and confirm the presence of an LVO stroke, they must make a critical decision about where to transport the patient. Not all stroke centres are capable of delivering endovascular therapy, so taking the patient to a hospital without these capabilities could result in significant delays in treatment. Therefore, LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with endovascular capabilities, even if it means going to a facility that is further away than the closest available hospital.

The Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) score is currently the best tool for EMS workers to identify LVO strokes. This simple pre-hospital stroke scale helps evaluate the presence of cortical signs of stroke, such as gaze deviation, aphasia, and agnosia, in addition to the typical stroke symptoms. By using the RACE score or other similar scales, EMS workers can make more informed decisions about where to transport LVO stroke patients and ensure they receive the best possible treatment as quickly as possible.

The BE FAST acronym can be used to help evaluate a patient for LVO stroke symptoms

People having an LVO stroke should be taken to a hospital that is equipped to provide the best possible treatment. This is because LVO strokes are considered one of the more severe kinds of strokes, accounting for approximately 24% to 46% of acute ischemic strokes.

• B - Balance: A person having an LVO stroke may experience a sudden loss of balance, coordination, or dizziness, or they may have a headache.
• E - Eyes: They may experience sudden blurred vision or a loss of sight in one or both eyes.
• F - Face: One side of the person's face may be drooping or numb. Ask the person to smile or stick out their tongue to check for this.
• A - Arm: One of their arms may be weak or numb and difficult to hold up. Ask the person to raise both arms to check for this.
• S - Speech: Their speech may be slurred, difficult, unintelligible, or nonexistent. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase to check for this.
• T - Time: If the patient displays any of these symptoms, immediately call emergency services and get the person to the hospital. Time is critical when it comes to treating strokes, as every second that a stroke goes untreated, 30,000 brain cells die.

LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with thrombectomy capabilities

Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) strokes are a type of ischemic stroke, which occur when a major artery in the brain is blocked. They are considered to be one of the most severe types of strokes, accounting for approximately 24% to 46% of acute ischemic strokes. As such, LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with thrombectomy capabilities.

The treatment recommended for LVO strokes is only available at certain hospitals. A procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy is strongly recommended for treating LVO strokes. This involves making a small incision, usually in the groin, and threading a catheter with tiny instruments to the site of the blockage to retrieve the clot. This advanced care can support better outcomes and recoveries, with less risk of serious disabilities like paralysis, and a greater return to normal functioning.

Not all stroke centres are capable of delivering this treatment. Therefore, it is critical that LVO stroke patients are taken to an interventional-capable facility as quickly as possible, even if that means bypassing the closest available hospital. Rapid treatment is key when it comes to LVO strokes.

There are several symptoms of an LVO stroke, which can be remembered using the acronym BE FAST:

• Balance: sudden loss of balance, coordination, or experiencing dizziness or a headache
• Eyes: sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes
• Face: is one side of the face drooping or numb?
• Arms: is one arm weak or numb and difficult to hold up?
• Speech: is speech slurred, difficult, unintelligible, or non-existent?
• Time: if the patient displays any of these symptoms, immediately call emergency services and get the person to the hospital

LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with mechanical thrombectomy capabilities

Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) strokes are a type of ischemic stroke that occurs when a major artery in the brain is blocked. They are considered one of the most severe types of strokes, accounting for approximately 24% to 46% of acute ischemic strokes. As with all strokes, LVO strokes are serious medical emergencies that require immediate attention.

The treatment recommended for LVO strokes is only available at certain hospitals. Mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure that involves removing the clot from the blocked artery, is the accepted standard of care for treating LVO strokes. This procedure is typically performed in an interventional radiology suite or a cath lab and requires specialized equipment and expertise. Therefore, it is crucial that LVO stroke patients are taken to a hospital with mechanical thrombectomy capabilities.

Time is of the essence when it comes to treating LVO strokes. The effectiveness of mechanical intra-arterial therapy is highly time-sensitive, and delays in treatment can lead to diminished clinical outcomes. This makes it essential for EMS systems to play a crucial role in identifying and assessing LVO stroke patients and expediting their transport to a hospital with the necessary capabilities.

To identify LVO strokes, EMS providers use assessment tools such as the Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) score, the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, and the BE FAST acronym. These tools help identify signs and symptoms such as facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and loss of balance or coordination.

Once LVO stroke is suspected, it is imperative to transport the patient to a hospital with mechanical thrombectomy capabilities as quickly as possible, even if it means bypassing a closer hospital that does not have these capabilities. This ensures that the patient receives the best possible treatment and improves the chances of a positive outcome and recovery.

In conclusion, LVO stroke patients should be taken to a hospital with mechanical thrombectomy capabilities to ensure they receive timely and appropriate treatment. The ability to identify and promptly transport LVO stroke patients to the right hospital can significantly impact their chances of recovery and reduce the risk of long-term disabilities.

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