The Importance of Time in Acute Ischemic Stroke Diagnosis: From Patient Admission to Radiological Assessment: A Retrospective Study

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a medical emergency that occurs when a thrombus or embolus suddenly blocks blood flow to the brain, depriving a specific region of oxygen. If circulation is not restored in time, brain tissue damage and cell death follow. Stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide, making early diagnosis and rapid treatment essential to minimize neurological damage. Despite advances in research and treatment, human factors still play a role in emergency care. Triaging patients, providing consultations, selecting the right tests, and accurately interpreting results all take valuable time, which can impact patient outcomes. Aim. This article aims to evaluate the diagnostic time values for acute strokes in one Hospital center. Methods. A retrospective analysis of adult patients diagnosed with acute ischaemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases I63.5) in the Trauma and Emergency Department in one Hospital center, that required head enhanced CT scan. Conclusion. Most door-to-CT orders were placed within five minutes, with a median time from door to CT interpretation of 1 hour 5 minutes. While reducing this delay is crucial for AIS management, the lack of of significant differences between shifts suggests operational factors play a role. To improve efficiency, future efforts should prioritize minimizing the interval between CT completion and radiological interpretation.