AHA/ASA Issues Toolkit to Encourage Adoption of Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines

May 16, 2016—The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) announced that a new toolkit focused on acute ischemic stroke guidelines aims at accelerating adoption of the 2015 update regarding endovascular treatment.

In the announcement, AHA/ASA Stroke Council Chair, Colin Derdeyn, MD, stated, “Stroke patients deserve the best evidence-based care available. The kit resources will help health care professionals better understand current treatment recommendations for acute ischemic stroke and identify opportunities to adjust their clinical approach.” Dr. Derdeyn is Chair of Radiology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Phase 1 of the Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment Toolkit, released May 16 during American Stroke Month, includes the 2015 focused update to the 2013 Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines, a quick sheet of key takeaways and a flow chart, the Healthcare Professional Education Presentation, and case studies. 

The toolkit can be accessed online at www.StrokeAssociation.org/AISToolkit. Additional toolkit materials in development will further support patient and emergency medical services/prehospital education.

AHA/ASA noted that clot removal with a stent retriever requires a specialized center or facility with doctors trained in the procedure. Eligible patients should receive endovascular therapy within 6 hours of symptom onset. In addition, the first line of treatment for all eligible patients—even those who would benefit from clot removal—is intravenous administration of a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV r-tPA)/alteplase, which remains the gold standard for ischemic stroke treatment.

The societies advise that both IV r-tPA and clot-retrieval procedures work better the sooner they are administered; therefore, the ASA teaches the acronym F.A.S.T. (Face drooping, Arm dropping, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911) to help people remember the most common stroke warning signs and what action to take.

The acute ischemic stroke toolkit and F.A.S.T. warning signs campaign are both part of the “Together to End Stroke” initiative nationally sponsored by Medtronic plc, stated the AHA/ASA.