Hemorrhagic stroke code the transition to comprehensive stroke code

Abstract

As recommended by the working group of vascular and interventional neurology of the Colombian Association of Neurology (ACN), stroke is defined as a neurological emergency characterized by a sudden neurological deficit potentially of arterial origin. Upon confirmation via neuroimaging, the diagnosis is rendered as cerebral infarction (CI) or hemorrhage, either intracerebral (ICH) or subarachnoid (SAH). Additionally, it can be of venous origin, such as cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

The stroke code is currently widely recognized as a time-is-brain strategy that seeks to meet strict time goals for treating ischemic stroke (iS), which have substantially improved the outcomes of stroke patients. However, this has not been the case for hemorrhagic stroke (hS), which, given the conditions, is also admitted through the emergency department and clearly benefits from having a standardized protocol of care and time goals, like iS, to improve patient outcomes.

The strategy recommended by the ACN for the early identification of a stroke is CORRE+. This acronym was created by neurologist Luis Roa and is designed to facilitate the identification of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes of anterior or posterior circulation. It comprises the following criteria: C: twisted face and/or worst headache, O: eye sudden alteration of vision, R: rapid weakness of an arm and/or leg, R: rare when speaking, E: altered balance + emergencies attend. The acronym is intended to be used by the general community and in different extra- and intra-hospital scenarios for immediate consultation.