STROKE is a cerebrovascular medical emergency defined as the sudden onset of neurological deficit resulting from a disruption of cerebral blood flow or intracranial bleeding. Clinical manifestations vary depending on the location and extent of brain tissue affected; symptoms may include hemiparesis or hemiplegia, aphasia or dysarthria, visual disturbances, ataxia, and sudden severe headache.

Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical for optimizing patient outcomes; patients with rapidly evolving neurological deficits should be transported immediately to the nearest Stroke Center (SC) or Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) for urgent diagnostic evaluation and treatment