The stroke (CVA) is the most common cause of deaths in Brazil and usually leaves sequelae in most survivors. Therefore early recognition and appropriate treatment are essential. Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are two major risk factors. The ischemic stroke may be 80% and 20% hemorrhage.
The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a systematic use tool that allows a quantitative assessment of neurological deficits associated with stroke. This scale was originally designed as a research tool to measure the initial neurological status in clinical trials of acute stroke. Currently, the scale is used in acute stroke therapy and as a guide in predicting the prognosis.
The NIHSS can then be used as an evaluation tool to document the clinical neurological status in patients with acute stroke. This scale is valid for predicting lesion size and severity of stroke. The NIHSS has shown prognostic value in both the short and long term, in stroke patients. Additionally, the scale used to monitor the patient's condition, useful in planning care, and allows a common language for information exchange among health professionals. The NIHSS was designed to be a simple, valid and reliable, which can be applied at the bedside consistently by physicians, nurses or therapists.