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Canadian Hospital Stroke Services 2026 — Thrombolysis, Thrombectomy & Rehab Guide
Complete guide to Canadian hospital stroke services — stroke pathway management, thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, stroke unit care, Heart & Stroke Foundation guidelines, stroke registry, and stroke software.
Stroke is the #3 cause of death in Canada. 50,000+ cases per year. Heart & Stroke Foundation sets guidelines. CIHI tracks stroke audit data. This guide covers Canadian stroke services.
Stroke Pathway Timeline
| Step | Target | Canadian Average |
|---|---|---|
| Door to CT | 25 min | 20-35 min |
| CT to interpretation | 15 min | 10-20 min |
| Door to needle (thrombolysis) | 60 min | 45-75 min |
| Door to puncture (thrombectomy) | 90 min | 70-120 min |
| Stroke unit admission | Within 24h | 60-80% within 24h |
| Rehab assessment | Within 48h | 40-60% within 48h |
Stroke Unit Care
- Dedicated stroke unit: Dedicated stroke unit with trained staff
- Stroke physician: Stroke physician or neurologist available
- Stroke nurse: Nurses with stroke training
- Early mobilisation: Early mobilisation within 24 hours
- Swallow assessment: Swallow assessment before oral intake
- DVT prophylaxis: DVT prophylaxis for immobile patients
- Secondary prevention: Antiplatelet, statin, BP control, AF management
- Rehab: Early rehabilitation (physio, OT, speech, neuropsych)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the stroke burden in Canada?
- Stroke is the #3 cause of death in Canada. 50,000+ stroke cases per year (one every 10 minutes). Prevalence: 400,000+ stroke survivors. Key risk factors: hypertension (30%), AF (5%), smoking (12%), diabetes (7%). 62% of stroke patients arrive within the thrombolysis window (4.5 hours). Heart & Stroke Foundation publishes national stroke guidelines.
- What is the Canadian stroke pathway?
- Canadian stroke pathway: 1) Recognition (FAST — Face, Arms, Speech, Time), 2. Call 911 (ambulance preferred), 3. ED triage (CTAS 1/2), 4. CT/CTA within 25 min of door, 5. Thrombolysis within 60 min of door (if eligible), 6. Thrombectomy within 6-24 hours (if eligible), 7. Stroke unit admission, 8. Early rehabilitation, 9. Secondary prevention, 10. Community reintegration.
- What is the Canadian stroke registry?
- The Canadian stroke registry (Stroke Audit, CIHI) tracks: 1) Door-to-CT time, 2. Door-to-needle time (thrombolysis), 3. Door-to-puncture time (thrombectomy), 4. Stroke unit admission rate, 5. Mortality, 6. LOS, 7. Discharge destination. Heart & Stroke Foundation publishes stroke report cards. Hospitals should participate in the stroke registry for benchmarking.