A 66-year-old man suddenly develops slurred speech and weakness of the right side of his body while at home. His wife calls an ambulance immediately. ...

Question

A 66-year-old man suddenly develops slurred speech and weakness of the right side of his body while at home. His wife calls an ambulance immediately. On arrival at the emergency department 45 minutes later, he is still symptomatic. Capillary glucose is 6.1 mmol/L. What is the single most appropriate immediate investigation?

Accepted Answer

CT head scan within 1 hour of arrival

Answer

MRI brain with diffusion-weighted imaging within 1 week

Answer

Carotid Doppler ultrasound before any brain imaging

Answer

Echocardiography to look for cardiac embolic source

Answer

Formal neuropsychological testing

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Acute ischaemic stroke