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Tests and treatment for stroke fact sheet

What you need to know

  • After a stroke, you should be given a brain scan to find out what type of stroke you had and how your brain is injured.
  • Other tests will try to find what caused your stroke.
  • If you had an ischaemic stroke, you may be given medicine or a procedure to clear the clot.
  • If you had a haemorrhagic stroke, you may be given medicine to control the bleeding, or have an operation.

Tests

When you go to hospital, you will be given tests to find out more about your stroke.

There are some tests everyone should have. Other tests, only some people need. You may have some tests more than once.

Your hospital team will make sure you get the tests and treatment you need.

Brain scans and tests

Computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Person having a brain scanThese are scans that take pictures of your brain. Everyone should have a brain scan as soon as possible after arriving at hospital.

Brain scans confirm you had a stroke. They show:

  • What type of stroke you had
  • What part of your brain is injured
  • How badly your brain is injured.

As part of your scans, you may need an injection of contrast dye. This shows more information about your brain and type of stroke.

Artery tests

Arteries in the neck carry blood to the brain. Tests can show if the arteries are narrowed or blocked.

You may have a carotid Doppler ultrasound or a CT angiogram.

For a CT angiogram, contrast dye is injected and X-rays are taken to show the blockage. This is often done at the same time as your brain scan.

Heart tests

Your heart pumps blood to your brain, so problems with your heart can cause a stroke.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

This test shows:

  • Problems with your heart rhythm
  • Heart disease.

Everyone should have an ECG.

Electrodes are placed on your chest to record heart activity.

A Holter monitor is a wearable ECG. It measures your heart activity over a longer period.

Echocardiogram (ECHO)

This ultrasound test shows:

  • A blood clot in your heart
  • A patent foramen ovale in your heart
  • If the chambers of your heart are enlarged.

Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE)

This test shows problems with the heart muscles, valves and the area around the heart.

A tube with an ultrasound scanner is passed down the throat into the oesophagus (your food pipe). The oesophagus passes near the heart.

Blood tests

Blood tests can help find health problems that may have caused your stroke. These include:

  • The time it takes your blood to clot
  • Kidney function
  • Blood sugar levels
  • Salt levels
  • Blood cell count
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Iron levels.

Other tests

  • Before you eat or drink, you need a test to see how well you can swallow. Eating or drinking when you can’t swallow properly can make you sick.
  • Urine tests or chest X-rays may also be done to check for infection or other disease.
  • Your hospital team will also monitor your blood pressure, heart rate or pulse, temperature, blood sugar levels, oxygen levels, and breathing pattern.

Some tests may happen after you get home. Make sure you go to all your appointments.

Talk with your GP if:

  • You are not sure of the details.
  • You need help getting to appointments.

Find out more about Early testing after stroke

Treatment

Your hospital team will talk with you and your family about what treatment is right for you.

Ischaemic stroke

You may be given medicine to clear the blocked artery. The medicine is given through an injection in your arm. This is called thrombolysis, or clot busting.

You may have a procedure to unblock the artery.

Your doctor puts a tube into an artery in your arm or leg. The tube is fed into your brain. Contrast dye is injected and X-rays are taken to show the blockage. This part of the procedure is called an angiogram.

A small device is then used to pull out the clot. This is called thrombectomy or endovascular clot retrieval (ECR).

Endovascular clot retrieval, with a stent inserted into an artery to pull out a clot

Aspirin or other blood-thinning medicine reduces the risk of another stroke.

A carotid endarterectomy is surgery for severely narrowed carotid arteries. These arteries in your neck carry blood to the brain. The surgery removes plaque to improve blood flow and reduce your risk of another stroke.

Haemorrhagic stroke

You may be given medicine to:

  • Slow down or stop the bleeding in your brain.
  • Control your blood pressure.

You may need an operation to:

  • Remove blood from your brain.
  • Fix a blood vessel in your brain.
  • Relieve pressure in your brain.

Find out more about Early treatment after a stroke

More help

StrokeLine

StrokeLine’s nursing and allied health professionals can give you information, advice and support.

StrokeLine is a free, confidential and practical service.

Open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Australian Eastern Time. StrokeLine is closed on National and Victorian public holidays.

Call 1800 787 653
Email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au 

EnableMe

EnableMe can help with your stroke recovery. Get the information you need. Connect with other survivors, families and carers.

Visit enableme.org.au