Novel Treatments for Transient Ischemic Attack and Acute Ischemic Stroke

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2021 Feb;39(1):227-242. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2020.09.014. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

Abstract

The treatment of acute ischemic stroke is one of the most rapidly evolving areas in medicine. Like all ischemic vascular emergencies, the priority is reperfusion before irreversible infarction. The central nervous system is sensitive to brief periods of hypoperfusion, making stroke a golden hour diagnosis. Although the phrase "time is brain" is relevant today, emerging treatment strategies use more specific markers for consideration of reperfusion than time alone. Innovations in early stroke detection and individualized patient selection for reperfusion therapies have equipped the emergency medicine clinician with more opportunities to help stroke patients and minimize the impact of this disease.

Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Endovascular thrombectomy; Intravenous alteplase.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Brain Ischemia / drug therapy
  • Brain Ischemia / surgery
  • Brain Ischemia / therapy*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Endovascular Procedures
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / drug therapy
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / therapy*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Stroke / drug therapy
  • Stroke / surgery
  • Stroke / therapy*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / methods

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents