ASLS FINAL 2026 ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS SET
A+
✔✔The ischemic penumbra is:
a. Brain tissue with permanent damage
b. Unaffected by the use of t-PA
c. Damaged by lowering blood pressure
d. Visualized on CT scan of the brain - ✔✔c. Damaged by lowering blood pressure
✔✔Which of the following is true?
a. Stroke is the leading cause of death in the USA
b. It is best to start controlling stroke risk factors after age 40
c. IV t-PA decreases the risk of death from stroke
d. Stroke incidence increases with age - ✔✔d. Stroke incidence increases with age
✔✔Which of the following is NOT typical of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
a. Neck stiffness
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Depressed consciousness
d. Gradual onset of symptoms - ✔✔d. Gradual onset of symptoms
✔✔The optimal IV solution for patients with acute stroke is:
a. Lactated Ringers
b. D5W
c. Normal Saline
d. ½ Normal Saline - ✔✔c. Normal Saline
✔✔In a patient suspected of having an acute stroke, which one of the following is
the best way to differentiate between an ischemic or hemorrhagic cause?
a. The history
b. The neurologic examination
c. Blood pressure values
d. A CT scan of the brain - ✔✔d. A CT scan of the brain
, ✔✔Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for ischemic stroke?
a. Cocaine use
b. Brain tumor
c. Excessive alcohol use
d. Hypercoagulable state - ✔✔b. Brain tumor
✔✔Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately what percent of all strokes?
a. 20%
b. 50%
c. 80%
d. > 95% - ✔✔c. 80%
✔✔Contraindications for thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke patients include:
a. History of TIA one week ago
b. History of brain hemorrhage 5 years ago
c. History of heart attack 1 year ago
d. Taking warfarin with subtherapeutic INR of 1.2 - ✔✔b. History of brain hemorrhage 5
years ago
✔✔Optimal management of patients with acute stroke in the prehospital and
emergency-department (ED) settings includes:
a. Keep patient NPO, including no oral liquids or medications
b. Administer high-flow oxygen via face mask
c. Keep patient's head flat to improve blood flow to the penumbra
d. Administer low-flow oxygen even if oxygen saturation is > 95% - ✔✔a. Keep patient
NPO, including no oral liquids or medications
✔✔EMS transports a 64-year-old man to the hospital for complaint of sudden
difficulty speaking and right-arm weakness that resolves after 20 minutes. In
the emergency department (ED), his neurologic examination is normal. The
appropriate action for ED personnel to take is:
Discharge him with advice to call his doctor for an appointment as soon
as possible.
Admit him to the hospital for a rapid evaluation to determine the cause of
his event
Discharge him with advice to begin aspirin 325 mg per day for stroke
prevention
Advise him his risk of disability will be decreased if he receives IV t-PA
therapy - ✔✔Admit him to the hospital for a rapid evaluation to determine the cause of
his event
✔✔ Which one of the following statements is correct regarding the use of IV TPA in
ischemic stroke patients?
a. It is most beneficial within 3 hours, but may be given within 6 hours
b. If used appropriately, it decreases risks of disability by 30%
A+
✔✔The ischemic penumbra is:
a. Brain tissue with permanent damage
b. Unaffected by the use of t-PA
c. Damaged by lowering blood pressure
d. Visualized on CT scan of the brain - ✔✔c. Damaged by lowering blood pressure
✔✔Which of the following is true?
a. Stroke is the leading cause of death in the USA
b. It is best to start controlling stroke risk factors after age 40
c. IV t-PA decreases the risk of death from stroke
d. Stroke incidence increases with age - ✔✔d. Stroke incidence increases with age
✔✔Which of the following is NOT typical of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
a. Neck stiffness
b. Nausea and vomiting
c. Depressed consciousness
d. Gradual onset of symptoms - ✔✔d. Gradual onset of symptoms
✔✔The optimal IV solution for patients with acute stroke is:
a. Lactated Ringers
b. D5W
c. Normal Saline
d. ½ Normal Saline - ✔✔c. Normal Saline
✔✔In a patient suspected of having an acute stroke, which one of the following is
the best way to differentiate between an ischemic or hemorrhagic cause?
a. The history
b. The neurologic examination
c. Blood pressure values
d. A CT scan of the brain - ✔✔d. A CT scan of the brain
, ✔✔Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for ischemic stroke?
a. Cocaine use
b. Brain tumor
c. Excessive alcohol use
d. Hypercoagulable state - ✔✔b. Brain tumor
✔✔Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately what percent of all strokes?
a. 20%
b. 50%
c. 80%
d. > 95% - ✔✔c. 80%
✔✔Contraindications for thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke patients include:
a. History of TIA one week ago
b. History of brain hemorrhage 5 years ago
c. History of heart attack 1 year ago
d. Taking warfarin with subtherapeutic INR of 1.2 - ✔✔b. History of brain hemorrhage 5
years ago
✔✔Optimal management of patients with acute stroke in the prehospital and
emergency-department (ED) settings includes:
a. Keep patient NPO, including no oral liquids or medications
b. Administer high-flow oxygen via face mask
c. Keep patient's head flat to improve blood flow to the penumbra
d. Administer low-flow oxygen even if oxygen saturation is > 95% - ✔✔a. Keep patient
NPO, including no oral liquids or medications
✔✔EMS transports a 64-year-old man to the hospital for complaint of sudden
difficulty speaking and right-arm weakness that resolves after 20 minutes. In
the emergency department (ED), his neurologic examination is normal. The
appropriate action for ED personnel to take is:
Discharge him with advice to call his doctor for an appointment as soon
as possible.
Admit him to the hospital for a rapid evaluation to determine the cause of
his event
Discharge him with advice to begin aspirin 325 mg per day for stroke
prevention
Advise him his risk of disability will be decreased if he receives IV t-PA
therapy - ✔✔Admit him to the hospital for a rapid evaluation to determine the cause of
his event
✔✔ Which one of the following statements is correct regarding the use of IV TPA in
ischemic stroke patients?
a. It is most beneficial within 3 hours, but may be given within 6 hours
b. If used appropriately, it decreases risks of disability by 30%
