Dr Cristina Russo

Dr Cristina Russo
MD MRCP (Lond) PhD PgD Stroke

Consultant in Stroke and Acute Medicine

Dr Cristina Russo is a Consultant in Stroke and Acute Medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, specialising in complex neurovascular and acute medical cases. She provides expert witness opinions on thrombolysis, thrombectomy, intracerebral haemorrhage, stroke misdiagnosis (including stroke mimics and posterior circulation strokes) and complications of anticoagulation. In acute medicine, she covers sepsis, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, subdural haemorrhage and abdominal emergencies, particularly where diagnostic or systemic failures are involved.

Dr Russo has particular expertise in hyperacute stroke care, advanced imaging interpretation and structured clinical decision-making. Her medico-legal reports are impartial, clearly reasoned, and evidence-based. Drawing on her experience as Deputy Head of Safety and former Clinical Lead, she provides balanced insight into both clinical practice and wider governance or systemic issues.

Her expert witness work has involved producing reports covering a wide range of clinical issues including:

• Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke
• Mechanical thrombectomy – eligibility, delays and outcomes
• Intracerebral and subdural haemorrhage – delayed diagnosis and intervention
• Impact of discontinuing anticoagulation in stroke and cardiology patients
• Stroke misdiagnosis, TIA and mimics
• Missed or delayed diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection
• Varied sepsis presentations and delayed escalation
• Intestinal obstruction and unrecognised abdominal emergencies

Dr Russo has completed Bond Solon expert witness training and has undertaken specialist courses in report writing and giving evidence.

Click here to view her CV.