In this episode of Brain to Bedside, guest host Dr. Lee Chung sits down with Dr. McKenna Coletti to break down a major milestone in stroke care: the first year the American Heart Association has released formal stroke guidelines for pediatric patients.

Drawing from Dr. Coletti’s recent conference presentation, this conversation focuses on what these new guidelines mean for frontline clinicians and how they can be applied in real-world settings. Pediatric stroke has long lacked standardized, evidence-based guidance, and this episode highlights how that gap is beginning to close.

Together, they walk through the most important updates, ongoing uncertainties, and the practical implications for recognition, imaging, and early management. The discussion emphasizes how healthcare teams can use this new guidance to improve consistency, reduce delays, and strengthen systems of care for children presenting with stroke.