As with many conditions, early detection of stroke is key to helping patients recover as quickly and completely as possible. When found early enough, the effects of a stroke can actually be reversed in many cases.
Our Stroke Center team, as part of the Ayer Neuroscience Institute, has access to the most advanced tools and technology to help us detect stroke early.
What Test Do You Need?
If we suspect you have had a stroke, you might have one or more of these tests:
- Stroke scale test. There are several forms of this test, which is how we evaluate your condition by checking your cognitive, physical and mental abilities.
- RAPID CT Perfusion. This advanced technology pinpoints the area of damage caused by an ischemic stroke, the more common type of stroke that occurs when a blood clot blocks blood vessels to the brain. This also can locate brain tissue that can be saved and give us an idea when the stroke occurred. Knowing this can increase the window for acute treatment up to 24 hours. We call these DAWN Stroke Protocols.
- Brain CT and/or MRI scans. These can show if there is bleeding in the brain or damage to the brain cells as a result of a stroke.
- Carotid ultrasound. We use ultrasound technology to examine the carotid arteries on either side of your neck to see if a buildup of plaque is restricting blood flow.
- Echocardiogram. This diagnostic test uses sound waves to create detailed images of the heart so we can find a source of clots that could have traveled to the brain and caused the stroke.
- Telehealth. Technology helps our experts connect with patients in hospitals that are not a Stroke Center. The equipment, including a high-definition camera, is kept in the emergency department to remotely connect patients with a Telehealth neurologist.