What is the preferred treatment for CVA if administered within 6 hours?

The preferred treatment for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), particularly ischemic stroke, when administered within a 6-hour window is typically intravenous thrombolytics. This has been established through various clinical guidelines, as they can effectively dissolve the clot causing the stroke and restore blood flow to the affected area of the brain.

Intra-arterial thrombolytics, while they can be used and may have benefits for select patients or types of stroke, are generally not the first-line treatment in the initial hours following the onset of symptoms. They require a more complex procedure and may not be as widely accessible or applicable as intravenous methods.

Mechanical thrombectomy is an advanced intervention that has shown great promise and is indeed the preferred method for patients with larger vessel occlusions in certain cases, but it is usually indicated for patients with moderate to severe stroke symptoms that persist beyond the initial 6-hour window or in specific anatomical circumstances.

Anticoagulation therapy is typically not recommended as an immediate treatment for acute ischemic stroke, particularly within the first hours, as this can increase the risk of hemorrhage without addressing the underlying ischemic event.

Thus, recognizing the approaches and timings for these treatments emphasizes the role of thrombolytics, particularly when administered intraven