André M. Nina-Farfan, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Andina del Cusco, Cusco, Perú
Nadinne M. Quispe-Torres, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Andina del Cusco, Cusco, Perú
Charlie G. Pari-Caller, Departamento de Emergencia y Cuidados Críticos, Hospital Regional del Cusco, Cusco, Perú
We present the case of a patient with de novo atrial fibrillation who presented to the emergency department with a 3-hour history of progressive right-sided hemiparesis. Suspecting an acute ischemic stroke of probable cardioembolic etiology, the neurological deficit was stratified using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), yielding a score of 8. The diagnosis was confirmed clinically and radiologically via cranial computed tomography, which revealed signs of ischemia in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery. The ABC therapeutic protocol was implemented, after which the patient demonstrated a favorable clinical evolution. By the seventh day, the patient exhibited significant motor recovery and was discharged, underscoring that timely diagnosis and early intervention in acute stroke are critical to mitigating the development of severe sequelae.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation. Stroke. Anticoagulants.