Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARs)

The presenting features of a patient with TACS

A combination of:

  • New, higher cerebral dysfunction (such as aphasia, inattention, dyspraxia, agnosia)
  • Homonymous visuospatial field deficit
  • Weakness or sensory loss involving at least 2 of 3 parts of the body (face, arm, leg)

A brain scan that has a caption 'large area of low density due to infarction and oedema

This CT scan shows a large right hemisphere infarct which might result in a TACI clinical syndrome.

Predicted outcomes at 30 days post-TACI:

  • 40% of patients dead
  • 56% of patients dependent
  • 4% of patients independent

(Reference: Bamford, J., Sandercock, P., Dennis, M., Burn, J. and Warlow, C.1991. Classification and natural history of clinically identifiable subtypes of cerebral infarction. Lancet, 337 pp. 1521-1526.)

Mr McTavish was transferred to the stroke unit at his local hospital in Scotland, where the following physical assessment took place.

Page last reviewed: 17 Feb 2020