BACKGROUND Early rehabilitation for acute stroke patients is widely recommended. We tested the hypothesis that clinical outcome of stroke patients who receive early rehabilitation managed by board-certificated physiatrists (BCP) is generally better than that provided by other medical specialties. METHODS Data of stroke patients who underwent early rehabilitation in 19 acute hospitals between ...

Although stroke incidence in high-income countries (HICs) decreased over the past four decades, it increased dramatically in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we describe the current status of primary prevention, treatment, and management of acute stroke and secondary prevention of and rehabilitation after stroke in LMICs. Although surveillance, screening, and accurate d...

Acute stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and as the most important cause of morbidity and long-term disability imposes an enormous economic burden. Stroke units (SU) are an effective option to fight stroke. According to the European Stroke Organization, SU should provide coordinated multidisciplinary care provided by medical personnel specialized in stroke...

Over the last decade, a number of advances in the care of stroke and TIA patients have been made. These advances include prevention, acute management, and recovery. Some of this work has occurred in Rhode Island. This review will focus on the revised definition of stroke and TIA; short-term risk of TIA; rapid management of TIA; targeted use of medication and lifestyle changes; monitoring for at...

One of the challenges in acute stroke management is accurately differentiating between actual ischemic events and other conditions that mimic stroke. In a cohort of 821 consecutive patients admitted to an acute stroke unit, 13% were incorrectly diagnosed as stroke [1]. In another cohort of 411 patients, it was estimated that 19% of patients presenting to the emergency department with stroke-lik...

OBJECTIVE To review recent advances in the management of acute ischaemic stroke in a two part presentation. DATA SOURCES Articles and a review of studies reported from 1990 to 2000 and identified through a MEDLINE search of the English language literature on acute ischaemic stroke. SUMMARY OF REVIEW An acute ischaemic stroke of the vertebrobasilar circulation is investigated initially with ...

This article reviews the recommended management of patients presenting to accident and emergency departments with acute ischaemic stroke, and focuses on thrombolysis. The review includes initial management, recommended clinical, laboratory, and radiographic examinations. Appropriate general medical care, consisting of monitoring of oxygenation, fever, blood pressure, and blood glucose concentra...

Whether raised blood pressure in patients with acute stroke should be treated is one of the major unresolved issues in acute stroke management, due mainly to a paucity of reliable data from sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials. However, the Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial (SCAST), recently published in The Lancet, adds important new information about the risks and benef...

As “time is brain”, acute ischemic stroke is considered a medical emergency. With the introduction of thrombolytic therapy and availability of modern neuroimaging modalities, timely diagnosis of an ischemic lesion, exclusion of intracerebral hemorrhage, assessing the degree of brain injury, and evaluation of cerebral vasculature is necessary in acute stroke management. Various neuroimaging tech...