Fast action can limit stroke damage, Feldkirch hospital warns
Thursday 17th September 2026 on 08:15 in
Austria
Every minute counts when someone suffers a stroke, the Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch hospital said in a warning published by ORF on World Patient Safety Day. Around 750 people are treated as inpatients for stroke there each year.
Recognising risk factors and warning signs and acting quickly can help prevent serious consequences. The FAST test checks whether one corner of the mouth droops when the person smiles, whether one arm drops when both arms are raised, and whether speech sounds changed or unclear. If any of these signs appear, call 144 immediately.
Until emergency services arrive, keep the person calm and monitor them. If they are unconscious, place them in the recovery position. If they are not breathing or have no heartbeat, begin resuscitation.
Rapid treatment
A stroke is a sudden disruption of brain function caused by a blood clot in the brain. The blocked blood vessel must be reopened as quickly as possible to reduce or, in the best case, prevent lasting physical impairment.
While the ambulance is taking the patient to hospital, the emergency department’s interdisciplinary team prepares for their arrival, said senior physician Philipp Werner. A neurological examination and brain imaging determine within a short time which treatment is needed. Depending on the cause, doctors may dissolve the clot with medication before inpatient admission, a procedure known as thrombolysis. If a larger brain vessel is blocked, they may remove the clot directly through a thin catheter, known as a thrombectomy.
Care and rehabilitation
Patients are then monitored and treated in the stroke unit. Highly specialised nurses provide round-the-clock care, while initial rehabilitation begins at an early stage. Neurologically trained speech therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists help patients regain lost abilities as soon as possible.
The aim is to restore blood flow to the brain quickly and limit permanent damage as much as possible, Werner said.