Hi any radiologist or neurologist out at hand?
Answers: CT scan, is other NEGATIVE in the first 48 hours after an occlusive (embolic) stroke,
Its is compulsory to repeat the scan after 72 hors, after the edema or swelling of the tissues have established itself, in charge to make aproper diagnosis more or less the extension, and territory artificial in the brain.
In both cases, because the risk of increasing the edema (swelling) no iodine bed contrast is given by intravenous route (iodothalamate),
In other words, the stroke IS THERE, if clinically, the patient have all those signs and synptoms....however proving it, take at least 3 days.
It does not preclude the proper treatment next to platelet antiaggregants, (dipiridamole, aspirin, Dextran drip,etc), intravenous fluids, nasogastric tube, close vigilation of conciousness, and looking for possible sources of emboli, (echocardiogram and EKG) to detect some thrombus formation in the atria (auriculae) of the heart,
However, surrounded by a stroke the least influential step, is to demonstrate at this stage , the size and extent of the swelling of the brain.
Its only a citation for future scan, as she evolves to improvement.....
The meaningful thing, is to start the psychotherapy, or measures to avoid a new stroke, at indistinguishable time, improve the present swelling of the brain.
A cynical CT scan, is NOT an important step contained by the treatment....she will have abundant others later on--
It is not at adjectives true that a CT is always denial for the first 48 hours. However, it is quite adjectives for the effects of an ischemic stroke to not show up right away on a head CT. It is possible to not enjoy visible evidence on a CT for 48 hours, but at hand is often evidence starting around 8 hours after the stroke. It is also not at adjectives true that a negative person in charge CT doesn't affect treatment. The reason that a boss CT is performed right away is to confirm that the character has not suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding contained by the brain), because this changes the treatment dramatically. In the satchel of an ischemic stroke, after the first head CT is obtain, an MRI is ordered because an MRI provides much more information. Ischemic strokes are visible on MRI essentially quickly after the stroke. CT is performed first because it is much faster and is better for seeing blood within the brain, but MRI is the definitive test for characterizing the location and extent of an ischemic stroke.
The subsequent things that should happen will be test to look for what caused the stroke. These typically include studies of the carotid arteries looking for narrowing that could be corrected next to surgery. An echo-cardiogram is obtained to see if in attendance are any clots within the heart that could enjoy had pieces break past its sell-by date and go to the brain. In the meantime, they will agree to her blood pressure run higher than commonplace to protect as much of the brain around the stroke as possible.
Anyway, the short answer to your question is that it is typical for there not to be evidence of a stroke on a commander CT obtained shortly after the symptoms of the stroke started.
The prescription and health information post by website user , ByeDR.com not guarantee correctness , is for informational purposes solely and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
Related Questions and Answers