Leadership Message: New stroke guidelines mean more brains and lives can be saved
(SACRAMENTO)
Dear Colleagues,
May is Stroke Awareness Month. To help UC Davis Health team members continue delivering leading-edge care, and to ensure we are all prepared to act when stroke symptoms appear in loved ones, I’d like to highlight key updates from the latest American Heart Association acute ischemic stroke guidelines, along with recent successes in our Comprehensive Stroke Program.
For the first time, the guidelines include detailed recommendations for diagnosing and treating pediatric stroke. This is a significant step forward: More children presenting to the emergency department will now be recognized and evaluated for stroke sooner. We also have guidance on how to treat them. Thrombolysis (intravenous “clot-busting” medication) can now be considered for children as young as 28 days with disabling deficits. Thrombectomy, the surgery to remove blood clots, is supported for children as young as six years.
Our hospital remains a critical resource for pediatric stroke, with one of the few teams in Northern California experienced in both pediatric thrombolysis and thrombectomy.
As stroke care evolves, so does our program. Over the past year, our thrombectomy volume has increased nearly 10 percent, reflecting stronger regional coordination and faster access to life-saving treatment.
We are identifying stroke earlier and ensuring patients receive timely, specialized care. This is made possible through expanded telestroke services across the UC Davis Health Telestroke Network, AI-assisted imaging triaging, and streamlined workflows.
Advances in adult treatment are also expanding our impact. Patients who meet criteria may now benefit from thrombolysis up to nine hours after the last known incident—doubling the previous treatment window. This progress underscores the importance of rapid evaluation and advanced imaging.
Though rare, stroke can affect infants, children, and teens. In addition to the adult F.A.S.T. warning signs—face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty—children may present with severe headache, seizures, confusion, vision changes, or trouble walking.
This month is a powerful reminder: Recognizing stroke quickly and acting with urgency saves lives. Together, we are building a faster, smarter, and more responsive system of care—and I am grateful for all you do to make that possible.
