Posterior Circulation Stroke: The One We Keep Missing -Dr. Sarah Fabiano
For the SCEMSA Education Webinar Series Join Dr. Sarah Fabiano, MD, FACEP, FEMS in an engaging presentation covering Posterior Circulation Stroke (PCS). --FREE FOR SCEMSA MEMBERS--
Description
Posterior Circulation Stroke: The One We Keep Missing
Posterior circulation strokes (PCS) are among the most frequently missed stroke presentations in the prehospital environment. This webinar is designed specifically for EMS providers and focuses on recognizing PCS in the field—where time, incomplete information, and atypical symptoms make identification challenging.
Participants will review how PCS presents differently than classic stroke, including key field findings such as dizziness, visual disturbances, acute nausea and vomiting, and sudden balance or coordination problems. The course will examine patient risk factors that should raise suspicion for PCS and discuss why commonly used stroke scales, including RACE, often fail to capture these patients.
The science and practical application of the finger-to-nose test will be reviewed, including why it detects PCS in a high percentage of cases and how South Carolina EMS systems are piloting and expanding its use in the field. The webinar will conclude with a review of real medicolegal cases involving missed PCS, reinforcing why early recognition and appropriate transport decisions matter for both patient outcomes and provider protection.