Educational Webinars

Delivering high-quality stroke education across Europe

The ESO Educational Webinar Series supports the Organisation’s mission to promote high-quality stroke education across Europe.

The aims of the ESO Educational Webinars series support the mission of ESO promoting the education of young stroke physicians across Europe. This ongoing educational series seeks to provide a balance between an interactive webinar and didactic teaching.

Designed for stroke physicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals, the webinar series offers a balanced format combining interactive discussion and expert-led teaching.

Participation is free and open to all for the live webinars. Following each session, ESO Members gain exclusive access to all recordings on demand via eSTEP.

The ESO Educational Webinar series is free and open to all for registration to join the live event.

After the webinar date, ESO Members can access all recordings on-demand via eSTEP, as an exclusive member benefit.

Upcoming dates

27 November 2025 from 16:00-17:00 CET: ESO Educational webinar on When the Weather Strikes: Understanding Stroke Risk in an Era of Climate Extremes. Register here.

11 December 2025 from 16:00-17:00 CET: ESO-VASCERN Joint webinar on Rare Cerebrovascular Disorders: The European Network Approach. Register here.

Educational Webinars Programme

ESO Educational webinar #26
When the Weather Strikes: Understanding Stroke Risk in an Era of Climate Extremes

Thursday, 27 November 2025 from 16:00-17:00 CET

In this webinar, Vasileios Piperas will present the evidence linking wildfires and air pollution with increased stroke risk. Anita Arsovska will then examine the growing body of evidence linking temperature extremes and rapid fluctuations to both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and will discuss the mechanisms through which these events affect cerebrovascular health.

Beyond individual patient care, we will highlight the challenges that air pollution and extreme temperatures pose for acute stroke services, rehabilitation, and secondary prevention. While the evidence base for specific adaptations in clinical management remains limited, we will explore emerging insights, highlight knowledge gaps, and consider potential strategies for system-level preparedness and adaptation in the era of climate change.

Participants will gain clinically relevant insights into risk factors and mechanisms, as well as practical considerations for risk mitigation and public health preparedness, while also understanding the areas where further research is needed before management approaches can be definitively adapted.

ESO-VASCERN Joint webinar
Rare Cerebrovascular Disorders: The European Network Approach

Thursday 11 December 2025 from 16:00-17:00 CET

Join speakers Dominique Hervé (France) and Nicola Rifino (Italy) for a webinar on Rare Cerebrovascular Disorders. An interactive discussion moderated by Marieta Peycheva (Bulgaria) and Saskia Lesnik Oberstein (Netherlands) will follow.

Programme:

Dominique Hervé: Tools and registries to support Rare Vascular Disorders care
Nicola Rifino: Tools in Daily Clinical Practice: Supporting Physicians in CADASIL and Moyamoya Angiopathy

Topics and dates

Secondary Prevention
22 September 2021 – Watch on eSTEP

Thrombolysis/Thrombectomy
3 November 2021 – Watch on eSTEP

Mimics and Chameleons in Emergency Department
8 December 2021 – Watch on eSTEP

Challenges in the Diagnostic Work-up of Ischemic Stroke in the Young
9 February 2022 – Watch on eSTEP

ICH
30 March 2022 – Watch on eSTEP

Stroke Outcome Prediction
10 November 2022 – Watch on eSTEP

Decompressive Hemicraniectomy
14 December 2022 – Watch on eSTEP

Interventions in Cardioembolic Stroke (PFO and LAA)
30 January 2023 – Register today

Participation

ESO Educational Webinars are open to ESO individual members. Join ESO now to participate in this educational webinar series and take advantage of all the benefits of ESO Membership.

All webinars created in this series will be available to ESO members for viewing on-demand in eSTEP.

Past Educational Webinars

Watch All Recorded Webinars in eSTEP

ESO Educational webinar #25
Small Vessel Disease: Diagnostic and Preventive Strategies

This webinar provides a comprehensive and practice-oriented view of this common but often challenging cerebrovascular disorder. The session begins with interactive case presentations, where real-world examples of patients with small vessel disease are discussed to illustrate diagnostic dilemmas, management decisions, and treatment strategies in daily clinical practice. Next, an expert overview lecture provides an in-depth look at the current understanding of cerebral small vessel disease, including advances in diagnostic tools, imaging markers, and preventive strategies. By combining case-based learning with an evidence-based update, clinicians are equipped with both the theoretical framework and practical insights needed to improve the care of patients affected by small vessel disease.

Join speakers Lina Palaiodimou (Greece) and Hugh Markus (UK) for presentations followed by an interactive discussion moderated by Marieta Peycheva (Bulgaria) and Anna Bersano (Italy).

ESO-WSO-ASA Joint webinar
Highlights from the WSO Congress 2025

Join moderators Guillaume Turc (France) and Luciano Sposato (Canada) and experts from the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), the World Stroke Organization (WSO), and the American Stroke Association (ASA) to discuss the highlights from the 17th World Stroke Congress (WSC 2025) taking place on 22-24 October 2025, in Barcelona, Spain.

This session featured expert discussions on the most important advances in research and clinical care of patients with cerebrovascular diseases.

Episode 24
Blood pressure management in patients with ICH

Join speakers Andrea Morotti (Italy) and Trine Apostolaki-Hansson (Sweden) to discuss Blood pressure management in patients with ICH for presentations and an active discussion moderated by Anna Bersano and Thorsten Steiner.

Presentation 1: Is intensive Blood Pressure control effective in improving clinical outcome? – Andrea Morotti, Italy

Presentation 2: What is the role of antihyperthensives in primary and secondary prevention of ICH? – Trine Apostolaki-Hansson, Sweden

This webinar is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi.

Episode 23
Transient Ischaemic Attack

Is this a funny turn or is this a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)? Clinicians are frequently faced with this question when patients present with transient neurological symptoms. This webinar will provide an in-depth review of TIA, focusing on the epidemiology and diagnostic challenges. We will discuss recent advances in the role of imaging in differentiating TIAs from mimics and will also cover current guideline recommendations on acute treatment as well as secondary prevention.

Join speakers Vojtech Novotny (Norway) and Linxin Li (UK) to discuss Transient Ischaemic Attack . An interactive discussion among presenters, moderators, and participants followed, moderated by Marieta Peycheva (Bulgaria) and Xabier Urra (Spain).

Episode 22
Artificial Intelligence applications in Stroke

This webinar will focus on AI applications in Stroke with presentations by Prof. Bruce Campbell (Australia) and Prof. William Whiteley (UK).

This webinar is the second in the series of ESO educational events covering the expanding field of AI applications in stroke. With our two international experts, we will cover current applications of automated tools in the acute stroke setting and overview the promise of AI based approaches using electronic health record data.

Stroke treatments are time critical. Brain and vascular imaging is often the rate-limiting step in making a diagnosis and determining treatment eligibility. Professor Bruce Campbell’s talk covers the practicalities of rapidly extracting the key information needed for decision-making and how automated processing tools can assist.

Large-scale health systems data provide the opportunity to learn a tremendous amount about the causes and consequences of stroke and other conditions. Professor Whiteley’s talk will cover an exemplar uses of such datasets, methods to improve what they can uncover, and opportunities in the future.

Episode 21
Early versus Later Anticoagulation for Stroke with Atrial Fibrillation

This webinar will focus on Early versus Later Anticoagulation for Stroke with Atrial Fibrillation with presentations by Dr. Maria Gabriel (Germany) and Prof. Georgios Tsivgoulis (Greece).

Stroke prevention and treatment in patients requiring anticoagulation present complex clinical challenges. This comprehensive webinar will delve into the latest evidence and guidelines on anticoagulation in stroke. We will explore the latest research on initiating anticoagulants after ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, including insights from major randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. To enhance clinical relevance, the session will also include real-world patient case discussions, providing practical insights into complex decision-making scenarios. Whether you are a clinician, researcher, or healthcare professional, this webinar will provide valuable updates on optimizing stroke care in anticoagulated patients. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and clinical practice!
An interactive discussion with participants will follow.

Episode 20
Tenecteplase vs alteplase for stroke thrombolysis

Join speakers Mihai Ionescu (Romania) and Danilo Toni (Italy) to discuss tenecteplase vs alteplase for stroke thrombolysis.

In an era of continuous innovation in acute ischemic stroke management, multiple options in thrombolytic treatment and/or endovascular management are now available. And when we are faced with an acute stroke patient, we must choose the best management in the most timely manner to try and secure the best chance of a good functional outcome. But during real-world practice, sometimes this process is not as straightforward as it sounds.

An interactive discussion among presenters, moderators, and participants will follow the presentations.

Episode 19
Artificial Intelligence and Stroke Management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) use has rocketed in the last years in daily clinical practice and research. Stroke has been a major field for AI application and ESO has recently created an AI Committee to deal with this burning topic. In this webinar, we follow a stroke patient during his or her path from symptoms onset to discharge in order to discover actual AI applications and gaps that have to be filled. Then we dive deeply into future perspectives of AI in stroke and get a nice overview on the state of the art of the ongoing major researches and projects in the stroke field.
Join speakers Giuseppe Reale (Italy) for a presentation on a paradigmatic case of a patient with ischemic stroke with his clinical pathway, showing the actual AI support and the gaps that have to be filled, and Carlos Molina (Spain) to discuss AI applications, the challenges of AI implementation and future perspectives.

Episode 18
Headache Associated with Stroke Mimics

Stroke mimics (false positive strokes) are a variety of non-vascular conditions that present with focal deficits. They represent 1% – 30% of the cases in the ED with suspected stroke. The diagnosis of a stroke mimic is very important, because misdiagnosis leads to inappropriate use of IVT and secondary preventative medications, not to mention the psychological impact and consequences on jobs, insurance and driving.

This webinar features presentations by Dr. Bogdan Ciopleias (Romania) and Prof. Anita Arsovska (North Macedonia), as well as an interactive discussion moderated by Dr. Xabier Urra (Spain) and Dr. Marieta Peycheva (Bulgaria).

Episode 17
Paediatric stroke, diagnostic work up and hyperacute treatments

This webinar will focus on Paediatric stroke, diagnostic work up and hyperacute treatments with presentations by Peter Sporns (Switzerland) and Maja Steinlin (Switzerland). A discussion with participants will follow.

Childhood arterial ischaemic stroke is a rare but devastating disease and underlying aetiologies vary greatly compared to adults. This webinar will introduce the different aetiologies and teach you how to identify them in the emergency setting using clinical and imaging examinations. Further it will discuss current evidence for hyperacute treatments with a focus on intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy and how this evidence may impact treatment decisions.

Episode 16
Stroke and Pregnancy

This webinar will focus on Stroke and Pregnancy with presentations by Dr. Susanna Diamanti (Italy) and Dr. Marialuisa Zedde (Italy). A discussion with participants will follow.

The first part of the webinar by Dr. Diamanti will focus on a case involving a 41-year-old woman who experienced an acute ischemic stroke caused by a medium vessel occlusion. Key elements of this clinical scenario will include the diagnostic procedures and decision-making involved in the Emergency Department. Additionally, we will address the challenge of accurately attributing the cause of the stroke when a patient presents with multiple risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases, particularly when considering the patient’s pregnancy status and the need for appropriate risk assessment.

Then, Dr. Zedde will dive into pregnancy as a physiological event in the woman’s life, that can be associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, both on the ischemic and hemorrhagic side. The approach to stroke in pregnancy is particularly tricky from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view and little evidence is available to support the individual choices. Arterial and venous cerebral thrombosis together with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, arterial dissection, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage will be considered in a pragmatic overview, summarizing the main issues for treatment.

Episode 15
Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, an evolving clinical concept

The next webinar will focus on Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: an evolving clinical concept, with presentations by Dr. Benedetta Storti (Italy) and Prof. David Werring (UK). A discussion with participants will follow moderated by Ellis van Etten (Netherlands) and Vojtech Novotny (Norway).

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a neurological disease characterized by amyloid beta-peptide deposits within small- to medium- sized blood vessels of the brain and leptomeninges. It is a major cause of lobar hemorrhage, especially in the elderly, and can manifest with symptoms ranging from transient neurological deficits (TFNE) to cognitive decline. Over the years, the knowledge of this condition has made much progress, but much remains to be elucidated. Diagnostic criteria have evolved over time, and recently new “special” forms of CAA have been introduced. In particular, the inflammatory form (CAA-ri), for which pharmacological treatment is possible, and the iatrogenic form, for which a connection with exposure in remote times to exogenous amyloid is hypothesized.

In the first part of the webinar, led by Dr. Storti, the clinical framework will be introduced, with practical examples from the everyday clinic, highlighting some aspects on which there is still much room for research.

The second part, led by Prof. Werring, will focus on CAA in the scientific literature, exploring recent developments, possible future perspectives and suggesting some good clinical practice rules.

CAA is a condition for which a cure is not yet available; therefore, the ability to recognize it and act on tight control of risk factors in the patient are vital. The goal of the webinar is to spread knowledge (and curiosity) about this disease, stimulating the audience to interact and share their experience.

Episode 14
Decoding CADASIL: exploring the genetic and clinical landscape of NOTCH3-Associated Small Vessel Disease

This webinar features presentations by two speakers giving complimentary perspectives on the topic, Nicola Rifino (Italy) and Saskia A J Lesnik Oberstein (Netherlands). An interactive discussion with participants followed, moderated by Anna Bersano (Italy) and Vojtech Novotny (Norway).

Cysteine-altering missense variants in one of the 34 epidermal growth-factor-like repeat (EGFr) domains of the NOTCH3 protein are the cause of NOTCH3-associated small vessel disease. This disease has a highly variable severity, of which the most severe end of the spectrum is known as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). The strongest known CADASIL modifier is NOTCH3cys variant position. NOTCH3cys variants located in EGFr domains were recently classified as either low (LR-EGFr), medium (MR-EGFr) or high risk (HR-EGFr).

In the first part of the webinar, CADASIL patients with different cerebrovascular risk factors, different ages and distinct NOTCH3 EGFr risk variants will be presented to show how broad the spectrum of the disease could be, ranging from a severe CADASIL phenotype to possibly non-penetrance.
In the second part of the webinar, we will discuss CADASIL-type NOTCH3 variants that are associated with an extremely broad small vessel disease phenotype, ranging from early-onset ischemic small vessel stroke and vascular dementia to much later late-onset small vessel disease signs and symptoms, or even clinical and radiological non-penetrance at age 70. The position of the CADASIL-type NOTCH3 variant along the gene is one of the major predictors of disease severity and, as has been recently shown, also predicts 2-year disease progression. Variant position can therefore be used in clinical practice to better predict disease progression, along with other relevant patient profiles.

Episode 13
Covert Brain Infarctions

In this webinar, you will hear from experts Dr. Salvatore Rudilosso (Spain) presenting two clinical cases with interactive polls about diagnostic and therapeutic management, followed by a didactic presentation by Dr. Thomas Meinel (Switzerland) on incidentally discovered cerebrovascular disease including SVD and non-SVD phenotypes.

An interactive discussion with participants was moderated by Else Charlotte Sandset (Norway) and Ellis van Etten (Netherlands ).

Episode 12
Moyamoya Arteriopathy, its clinical features and management

During this webinar, Prof. Peter Vajkoczy and Dr Stéphanie Guey discussed Moyamoya Arteriopathy, its clinical features and management. An interactive discussion among presenters and participants was moderated by Dr Anna Bersano and Dr Vojtech Novotny.

Episode 11
Vascular Cognitive Impairment

This webinar was led by Prof. Sarah Pendlebury (University of Oxford, UK) and Dr. Frank Wolters (Erasmus MC, The Netherlands). Dr. Wolters presented a case to illustrate the challenges in the nosological diagnosis of cognitive impairment, including some treatment dilemmas, to improve clinical reasoning for the diagnosis and management of VCI. Following the case presentation, Prof. Pendlebury discussed vascular cognitive impairment with particular reference to post-stroke dementia, mixed dementia and the role of systemic factors outside the brain.

This webinar aims to give participants insight into:

the epidemiology of dementia and post-stroke dementia
diagnostic criteria for VCI/VaD
typical cognitive domain impairment profile
post-stroke dementia including risks of dementia in relation to the background population
key risk factors
delirium, transient impairments and cognitive trajectory
role of systemic factors
management

Dr. Alastair Webb and Dr. Else C. Sandset moderated an interactive discussion among presenters and participants directly following the presentations.

Episode 10
Prevention of Complications in Acute Stroke

One of the commonest reasons for high morbidity after acute stroke is due to the development of complications that result in secondary harm, both directly from the stroke itself and from the medical complications of neurological dysfunction. Prevention of these complications is therefore critical.

In this webinar, Prof. Christine Roffe (Keele University, UK) and Dr. Lina Palaiodimou (Attikon University Hospital, Greece) use an illustrative case to demonstrate the current state of both evidence and clinical practice for preventing these complications, such as deep vein thrombosis, aspiration pneumonia, and many others.

Episode 9
Management of SAH and aneurysms

In this webinar, Prof. Gabriel Rinkel (UMC Utrecht Brain Center) and Prof. Nima Etminan (University Hospital Mannheim) discuss current evidence on the management of ruptured intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as provide a brief overview on the evidence on risk of rupture and risks of treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and on how to form treatment advice.

By the end of the session, participants will be informed about the contemporary management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, including detection and management of delayed cerebral ischemia and current evidence from the latest clinical trials. They will also come to understand the most important factors to take into account in consultations with patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms and how to discuss the management options with the patient.

An interactive discussion among presenters and participants is moderated by Dr. Diana Aguiar de Sousa and Dr. Yvonne Zuurbier.

Episode 8
Interventions in Cardioembolic Stroke (PFO and LAA)

In this webinar, Prof. Peter Schellinger, Johannes Wesling Medical Center Minden, and Dr. Thomas Meinel, Inselspital Bern, covered borderline scenarios of PFO closure and challenging scenarios of LAAO closure through clinical case presentations and didactic information on the various scenarios.

An interactive discussion among presenters and participants was moderated by Dr. Alastair Webb and Dr. Yvonne Zuurbier.

Episode 7
Decompressive Hemicraniectomy

The 7th Episode of ESO`s Educational Webinars featured speakers Dr. Soffien Ajmi and Prof. Bart van der Worp, who focused on decompressive hemicraniectomy in malignant MCA ischaemic stroke.

Dr. Ajmi discussed a real-life case demonstrating the complexity of decisions required in clinical practice to balance this life-saving intervention against the probability of severe disability, and to what extent this remains valid in patients outside the specific indications of the seminal trials. Prof. van der Worp discussed the evidence base and indications in clinical practice for when intervention is appropriate in this population, and what we know about more difficult questions that occur in real-life practice. The webinar was moderated by Dr. Else C. Sandset and Dr. Alastair Webb.

Episode 6
Stroke Outcome Prediction

The 6th Episode of ESO`s Educational Webinars featured speakers Prof. Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen and Dr. Giuseppe Reale who presented the topic of stroke outcome prediction through a discussion covering current research and clinical experience.

Episode 5
There is no such thing as primary intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH)

Intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH) gathers an heterogeneous group of underlying vessel diseases. The cause of ICH is important to identify because it will influence the outcome and the risk and nature of future vacsular or cognitive events.

In the 5th Episode of ESO`s Educational Webinars, Barbara Casolla presented cases of ICH and solicited participants input to choose the etiological work-up. Charlotte Cordonnier provided an overview of the causes of ICH and how to build the etiological work-up. An interactive discussion followed and was moderated by Alastair Webb and Yvonne Zuubier.

Episode 4
Challenges in the diagnostic work-up of Ischaemic Stroke in the young

The incidence of young-onset ischaemic stroke has been increasing during the last decades, with patients suffering from high morbidity and long-term mortality. This 4th Episode of ESO`s Educational Webinars provided a practical overview on epidemiology, risk factors and the wide spectrum of stroke etiology in the young. Furthermore, recommendations for etiologic work-up were covered.

Dr. Nicolas Martinez-Majander presented two cases of young stroke and solicit participant input, and Prof. Jukka Putaala provided an overview of ischemic stroke in the young: Risk factors, etiologic distribution, and diagnostic considerations. An interactive discussion followed and was moderated by Prof. Alastair Webb and Prof. Diana Aguiar de Sousa.

Episode 3
Mimics and Chameleons in the Emergency Department

Not every emergency ‘Code Stroke’ is a stroke: how to deal with stroke mimics in the acute setting. Learning from the diagnostic process and treatment decisions of two common stroke mimics.

In the 3^rd Episode of ESO’s Educational Webinars, Valeria Caso and Annemijn Algra addressed this important subject with case presentations, accompanied by an interactive discussion with input from the audience. The discussion was moderated by Else Charlotte Sandset and Diana Aguiar de Sousa.

Episode 2
The Role of Thrombolysis in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion

Whether acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion with immediate access to endovascular therapy should be pre-treated with intravenous thrombolysis has been investigated in randomized clinical trials, however results of these trials are conflicting. Moreover, observational data suggest a potential role of thrombolysis after thrombectomy.

In this 2nd Episode of ESO’s Educational Webinars, Urs Fischer and Johannes Kaesmacher addressed this highly debated subject with case presentations, followed by an overview on the current literature. The webinar was moderated by Alastair Webb and Else Charlotte Sandset.

Episode 1
Secondary Prevention: Medical Management of Large Artery Disease

The 1st Episode of ESO`s Educational Webinars featured speakers Peter Kelly and Linxin Li. Dr. Li presented a case study where participants could indicate how they would proceed and Prof. Kelly then presented his suggestion and compared the audience response with the actual response in the clinic. Prof. Kelly followed with a detailed didactic lecture on the topic. The session culminated with an interactive discussion moderated by Alastair Webb and Yvonne Zuurbier.