Who's ready for a stroke alert? In this episode, we will walk through a sample stroke alert, reviewing the NIH stroke scale, thrombolytic contraindications, thrombectomy candidacy, and more. If you would like to review a single resource to prepare for these questions, the June 2026 Continuum article "Thrombolysis, Thrombectomy, and Antithrombotic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke" would be an excellent choice. Further references are available below. If you have not already done so, please consider listening to our short Intro episode where we share our goal for this podcast and some tips to make the most of our question-based format. We welcome your feedback at neurologyactiverecall@gmail.com! As a reminder, this podcast was created by neurology residents at the University of Colorado for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The opinions expressed in this podcast are the authors’ and do not represent the position of the University of Colorado Anschutz. The sample case presented in this episode is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental. Episode written and recorded by Dr. Bliss Baird with guidance from Dr. Setareh Salehi Omran and Dr. Elizabeth Matthews. Music by Dr. Edith Sigler. References: Barber, P.A., et al., Validity and reliability of a quantitative computed tomography score in predicting outcome of hyperacute stroke before thrombolytic therapy. The Lancet, 2000. 355(9216): p. 1670–1674. Chen, H.-S., et al., Dual Antiplatelet Therapy vs Alteplase for Patients With Minor Nondisabling Acute Ischemic Stroke: The ARAMIS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 2023. 329(24): p. 2135–2144. Czap, A.L. and S.A. Sheth, Overview of Imaging Modalities in Stroke. Neurology, 2021. 97(20 Suppl 2): p. S42–s51. Gaillard F, A.G., Sharma R, et al. CT perfusion in ischemic stroke. 8 May 2026 06/20/2026]. Goyal, M., et al., 2C or not 2C: defining an improved revascularization grading scale and the need for standardization of angiography outcomes in stroke trials. J Neurointerv Surg, 2014. 6(2): p. 83–6. Higashida, R.T. and A.J. Furlan, Trial Design and Reporting Standards for Intra-Arterial Cerebral Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke, 2003. 34(8): p. e109–e137. Leon Guerrero, C.R., Thrombolysis, Thrombectomy, and Antithrombotic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke. Continuum, 2026. 32(3): p. 775–790. Lin, J., et al., Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: development and update. Brain Communications, 2025. 7(3). Ma, G., et al., Tenecteplase for Acute Non–Large Vessel Occlusion 4.5 to 24 Hours After Ischemic Stroke: The OPTION Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 2026. 335(13): p. 1137–1147. Prabhakaran, S., et al., 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 0(0). Thomalla, G., et al., MRI-Guided Thrombolysis for Stroke with Unknown Time of Onset. New England Journal of Medicine, 2018. 379(7): p. 611–622. Yaghi, S., et al., Treatment and Outcome of Hemorrhagic Transformation After Intravenous Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 2017. 48(12): p. e343–e361.
