Stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in the United States, and projections suggest that its incidence will increase in the coming decade. Of all stroke cases, 85% are caused by vascular occlusion, resulting in infarction to the brain, in a condition more specifically known as acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) guideline addresses early management of AIS for providers’ use in ensuring rapid evaluation and imaging for patients suspected to be affected. The guideline also aids providers in determining and delivering the most appropriate interventions upon AIS diagnosis. This activity reviews the AHA/ASA AIS guideline and highlights key components of care, such as patient evaluation, criteria for fibrinolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, postacute care, and hospital discharge with secondary prevention measures.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the most common mechanisms that lead to an AIS
• Identify the vessel occluded by an AIS based on the presenting symptoms
• List the most appropriate steps in the initial evaluation of AIS
• Determine the most appropriate intervention(s) in AIS based on patient presentation

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Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Practice

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the most common AI models, their uses in healthcare delivery, and their limitations in these applications
• Outline important roles for physician associates and other APPs in the development, adoption, evaluation, and ethical use of AI models in CV care
• Discuss considerations for and challenges in integrating AI into the CV care continuum