title: Assessment and management of transient ischaemic attack--the role of the TIA clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the risk of early stroke following transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is increasingly recognised, the management of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of TIA presents a clinical challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of prospectively collected data on patients referred to a TIA clinic in St. Vincent's University Hospital, between January 2003 and July 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred-and-seventeen (117) patients (mean age 75.5 years) were assessed. The majority (79%) were referred from Accident and Emergency and 61% were seen within one week of referral. Seventy-two patients (62%) had a final diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (56 TIA, 16 completed strokes), of whom five (7%) and four (5.5%) had severe (> 70%) and moderate (> 50%) symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, respectively, whilst seven patients (10%) had newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation, five of whom were anticoagulated. Non-cerebrovascular diagnoses were made in twenty-seven patients (24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A TIA clinic, in co-ordination with Accident and Emergency Services, provides a safe and efficient alternative to hospital admission for patients with TIA symptoms and a low early stroke risk.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Geriatric Medicine, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Laoide
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*