ASLS advance stroke life support review 2025-2026 latest updated version with expert solutions

Ischemic stroke

a type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked.

Most strokes are caused by:

Thromboembolism

thromboembolism

A blood clot that has formed within a blood vessel and is floating within the bloodstream.

Current treatment for ischemic stroke:

Thrombolytics, fibrinolytics, and endovascular removal.

endovascular removal

Endovascular treatment of stroke is the non-surgical treatment for the sudden loss of brain function due to blood clots. The treatment uses microcatheters (thin tubes visible under X-rays) which are inserted into the blood clot from the groin or the arm. The blood clot is removed from the blood vessel - this procedure is called a thrombectomy. If the blood clot cannot be removed, it is liquefied using drugs delivered through the catheter, in a procedure known as thrombolysis.

Stroke

Sudden brain dysfunction due to blood vessel problem.

hemorrhagic stroke

blood vessel ruptures in the brain

two types of hemorrhagic stroke

intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage

intracerebral hemorrhage

A weakened vessel bleeds into the brain.

Moat common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage

Chronic hypertension

subarachnoid hemorrhage

An aneurysm ruptures and bleeds around the brain.

"Worst headache ever"

Most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage

aneurysm rupture

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Transient "mini-stroke", neurological dysfunction causes by ischemia without infarction.

Most common cause of transient ischemic attacks

Thromboembolism

Penumbra zone

Zone of reversible ischemia around the core of the irreversible infarction.

Salvageable within first few hours after ischemic stroke onset.

If sugar is high, penumbra can wake up and die.

Penumbra is damaged by

Seizure

Hypotension

Hyperglycemia

Fever

Intravenous t-PA administration only if:

Hemorrhage excluded by CT.

Ischemic stroke onset within 3 to 4.5hrs.