Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Acute Stroke Management, 7<sup>th</sup> Edition Practice Guidelines Update, 2022
Manraj K.S. Heran, Patrice Lindsay, Gord Gubitz, Amy Yu, Aravind Ganesh, Rebecca Lund, Sacha Arsenault, Doug Bickford, Donnita Derbyshire, Shannon Doucette, Esseddeeg Ghrooda, Devin Harris, Nick Kanya-Forstner, Eric Kaplovitch, Zachary Liederman, Shauna Martiniuk, Marie McClelland, Geneviève Milot, Jeffrey Minuk, Erica Otto, Jeffrey J. Perry, Rob Schlamp, Donatella Tampieri, Brian van Adel, David Volders, Ruth Whelan, Samuel Yip, Norine Foley, Eric E. Smith, Dar Dowlatshahi, Anita Mountain, Michael D. Hill, Chelsy Martin, Michel Shamy
Abstract
ABSTRACT: The 2022 update of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSBPR) for Acute Stroke Management , 7 th edition, is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations, appropriate for use by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers and system planners caring for persons with an acute stroke or transient ischemic attack. These recommendations are a timely opportunity to reassess current processes to ensure efficient access to acute stroke diagnostics, treatments, and management strategies, proven to reduce mortality and morbidity. The topics covered include prehospital care, emergency department care, intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), prevention and management of inhospital complications, vascular risk factor reduction, early rehabilitation, and end-of-life care. These recommendations pertain primarily to an acute ischemic vascular event. Notable changes in the 7 th edition include recommendations pertaining the use of tenecteplase, thrombolysis as a bridging therapy prior to mechanical thrombectomy, dual antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention, 1 the management of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolysis, acute stroke imaging, care of patients undergoing EVT, medical assistance in dying, and virtual stroke care. An explicit effort was made to address sex and gender differences wherever possible. The theme of the 7 th edition of the CSBPR is building connections to optimize individual outcomes, recognizing that many people who present with acute stroke often also have multiple comorbid conditions, are medically more complex, and require a coordinated interdisciplinary approach for optimal recovery. Additional materials to support timely implementation and quality monitoring of these recommendations are available at www.strokebestpractices.ca .