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(Circulation. 2005;112:III-110 – III-104.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Section 2

Part 9: Stroke

From the 2005 International Consensus Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations, hosted by the American Heart Association in Dallas, Texas, January 23–30, 2005.

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
Stroke experts selected for the Stroke Task Force evidence evaluation process represent a variety of specialties (epidemiology, neurology, emergency medicine) and healthcare settings (community hospitals and medical centers) in the United States and Canada. Conflict of interest statements completed by task force members are linked to the superscript number at the end of this sentence.^W000

The 2005 Consensus Conference evaluated the evidence related to the management of acute stroke. Survival and recovery from acute ischemic stroke requires establishment of systems and programs designed to promote rapid recognition of stroke warning signs, rapid emergency medical service (EMS) transport of stroke victims with prearrival notification to the receiving hospital, and a hospital system capable of providing organized and efficient stroke care. Intravenous (IV) fibrinolytic therapy is effective for reducing morbidity from acute ischemic stroke, but evidence shows that it must be administered within a system of acute stroke care using strict protocols and quality-improvement practices. This chapter separates stroke topics into out-of-hospital management, fibrinolytic therapy, and early in-hospital management.

	Out-of-Hospital Setting

 
Care of the acute stroke patient ideally begins before the patient arrives at the hospital. This section considers the use of supplementary oxygen and out-of-hospital assessment and triage of patients with acute stroke. Oxygen administration is important for hypoxemic patients, but supplementary oxygen administration for all stroke victims has not yet been shown to be effective. Paramedics are able to recognize stroke with more sensitivity and specificity after receiving training in the use of specific stroke scales. Once the stroke victim is identified, . . . [Full Text of this Article]