title: TOAST classification of subtypes of ischaemic stroke: diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in stroke. A four-year observation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to classify ischaemic strokes according to TOAST in patients treated in the internal disease and neurological wards of a hospital in Lower Silesia, evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and compare their treatment effectiveness according to the Rankin scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventy-nine patients below 80 and 77 patients over 80 years of age suffering from ischaemic stroke were covered by the retrospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with large-artery atherosclerosis according to the TOAST classification and over 80 years old (p = 0.001) were more frequently hospitalised in the internal disease ward (p = 0.005). Strokes caused by small-vessel occlusion were more frequent in the neurological ward (p = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors suggest the general use of the TOAST classification and an active information campaign among doctors of various specialisations about standard procedures in stroke according to AHA and EUSI guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Academy in Wroclaw, Poland. bogusparad@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paradowski
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maciejak
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy