This study aims to evaluate the role of stroke protocol in the early diagnosis and management of acute stroke and its effect on turnaround time (TAT) in emergency settings.

Acute stroke is a common and often devastating disorder; however, acute treatments that reduce long-term disability are available if patients present within the time window for treatment.

Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used in comprehensive stroke centers, although the role of advanced imaging in the improvement of stroke outcome remains controversial.

MRI offers advantages for the assessment of acute stroke. Changes of acute ischaemic injury are detectable sooner with MRI than with CT, especially with diffusion-weighted imaging, and ischaemic stroke diagnosis with MRI has greater interobserver and intraobserver reliability than CT, even in readers with little experience.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years.
• Both sexes.
• Patients with acute stroke who are admitted to the emergency department.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).
• Symptoms strongly suggestive of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Initiation of antithrombotic or thrombolytic treatment before the completion of both scans.
• Inability to complete both scans in time to allow thrombolytic treatment within three h of the onset of symptoms.
• Uncontrollable hypertension.
• Pregnant or lactating women.

This prospective cohort study will be carried out on 136 patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms after approval from the institutional ethical committee.

The data will be available upon a reasonable request from the corresponding author after the end of study for one year.

After the end of study for one year.

The data will be available upon a reasonable request from the corresponding author.