LAUSR

Acute ischemic stroke is a time-sensitive disease and needs to be treated immediately. We have already known that elevated BNP and NT-proBNP level is an independent biomarker for cardioembolic stroke and is associated with unfavorable outcome.[2-4] In the ED, emergency physician can perform BNP/NT-proBNP test and get the result within 15 min using point of care testing platform. To keep effective and rapid assessment, we set up a new algorithm of suspected stroke patient management in the ED.[4] Patients’ blood samples for BNP/NT-proBNP and other laboratory tests are collected together at the third step according to the goals for the management of patients with suspected stroke recommended by the AHA and ASA guidelines. Based on our clinical experience, the suspected stroke patients can obtain initial assessment and high-efficient management within 1 h in the ED.[4]