ABSTRACT
IMAGING FOR ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE PRESENTING WITHIN THREE HOURS
Immediate access to imaging is essential for determining if the stroke is hemorrhagic or ischemic and, thereby, planning appropriate acute therapy. The only necessary imaging modality for acute stroke treatment is the noncontrast CT (NCCT) scan. It should be available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. The CT scan should be performed within 25 minutes of arrival and, therefore, a technician must be available promptly. In addition, interpretation must be available within 45 minutes. In many instances, the interpretation is done immediately by the physician making the decision regarding the use of thrombolytic therapy, i.e. the neurologist or emergency department (ED) physician. The need for rapid ED assessment and specific time goals are discussed further in Chapter 5.
