Early Stroke Diagnosis
The earlier a stroke is diagnosed, the less the brain will be damaged. An early stroke diagnosis is therefore vital if a patient is to be successfully treated.
Diagnosing a stroke
The acronym 'FAST' can be used when diagnosing a stroke:
- 'F' stands for Face – the face will drop on one side
- 'A' stands for Arms – the person will not be able to lift one arm/both arms
- 'S' stands for Speech – their speech will be slurred
- 'T' standard for Time – time to call an ambulance immediately
Even if symptoms quickly disappear, medical help should still be sought as a matter of urgency. It may be that the person has suffered a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), which is a mini-stroke. This is often a precursor to a full stroke.
When someone is displaying signs of a stroke (or has been displaying signs of a stroke), doctors should be quick to carry out a number of tests. This will include blood tests and a swallow test. A brain scan should also be performed on an urgent basis, meaning within 24 hours.
Benefits of an early stroke diagnosis
If a stroke is diagnosed early, it will ensure treatment is given to unblock the artery/stem the burst blood vessel. This will prevent the brain being damaged any further. If treatment is given early enough, it can save the patient's life and reduce the chance of long-term disability.
If an ischaemic stroke is left untreated, the brain will deprived of oxygen. Or if the patient has had a haemorrhagic stroke, there will be bleeding on the brain, causing brain injury. The longer this continues, the worse the brain damage will be.
Furthermore, if a TIA is diagnosed early, the patient will undergo treatment to prevent a full stroke from happening. This is greatly beneficial as a TIA may not cause any long-term harm. A full stroke, however, can lead to death or severe disability.
Failure to diagnose a stroke
As mentioned above, an early diagnosis is key if a stroke patient is to recover. Should doctors fail to diagnose a stroke, or fail to respond to a TIA, the patient could suffer serious consequences.
If doctors failed to diagnose and treat you or your loved one for a stroke, there could be a case of medical negligence. This would entitle you to claim compensation for the unnecessary injuries that have been caused. Please contact us to find out more.
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