title: Management of acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: Acute stroke affects about 800,000 patients annually in the US and is the leading cause of disability. It is a complex condition with multiple causes and requires comprehensive but rapid evaluation by stroke specialists working in institutions with well-organized stroke systems of care. Acute stroke treatment is focused on early revascularization with intravenous tPA for those with strokes under 3 hours duration or intra-arterial therapy for most others and those who cannot receive tPA. The latter is evolving rapidly with the advent of stent-retriever embolectomy devices that are poised to revolutionize stroke treatment. Recanalization is associated with neurological recovery in 33-50 % of patients. This also means that many patients may have devastating and life-threatening brain injury, which highlights the need for comprehensive care for the prevention and treatment of medical complications, management of cerebral edema and intracerebral hemorrhage.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA. a.abouchebl@louisville.edu
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Abou-Chebl
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator