Critical care management of acute ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) can have profound and devastating effects on the CNS and several other organs. Approximately 15% to 20% of patients with AIS are admitted to an intensive care unit and cared for by a multidisciplinary team. This article discusses the critical care management of patients with AIS.


RESULTS
Patients with AIS require attention to airway, pulmonary status, blood pressure, glucose, temperature, cardiac function, and, sometimes, life-threatening cerebral edema.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of disease-specific data has led to numerous management approaches and limited guidance on choosing among them. Existing guidelines emphasize risk factors, prevention, natural history, and prevention of bleeding but provide little discussion of the complex critical care issues involved in caring for patients with AIS.
Wayne State University, Department of Neurology, 4201 St. Antoine-8C, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. wcoplin@med.wayne.edu
William M
WM
Coplin
D000208:Acute Disease; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D019468:Disease Management; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D058633:Antipyretics; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents