Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

pp 605-607

Abstract

Modern management of acute ischemic stroke is based on treating this disorder as the life-threatening emergency it is. The goals of early treatment are early recognition, rapid evaluation, institution of treatments to prevent or control early complications, and speedy transport to a unit that specializes in the care of stroke. While no treatment has been established as effective in reversing or halting the neurologic effects of acute ischemic stroke, therapies of proven efficacy that prevent medical or neurologic complications are available. Their use will improve outcome. A number of promising treatments including antithrombotic drugs, thrombolytic agents, and cytoprotective therapies are currently being tested. One or more of these interventions, alone or in combination, will likely be shown to be useful.