9
The European Stroke Scale
Overview :
The European Stroke Scale can be used to assess a patient who has recently had a stroke involving the distribution of a
middle cerebral artery. This can be used to measure therapeutic efficacy and to match patients for comparison.
Parameters:
(1) level of consciousness
(2) comprehension: The patient is asked to follow these commands: (a) stick out tongue, (b) put a finger from the
(unaffected) side on the nose, (c) close the eyelids. The examiner must not demonstrate the action.
(3) speech: The examiner makes general conversation with the patient.
(4) visual field: The examiner stands at arm's length and compares the patient's field of vision by advancing a
moving finger from the periphery inwards. The patient is asked to fixate on the examiner's pupil. The test is
done first with one eye open and the other closed, then the opposite.
(5) gaze: The examiner steadies the patient's head and asks the patient to follow the examiner's finger. The
examiner observes the resting eye position and subsequently the full range of movements by moving the
finger from the left to the right, then vice versa.
(6) facial movement: The patient's face is examined while talking and smiling, with any asymmetries noted. Only
the muscles in the lower half of the face are assessed.
(7) arm in outstretc Y