Management of the TIA patient
Weisberg, L.A.
Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society Official Organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society 146(5): 203-207
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-6921 PMID: 8027631 Document Number: 429324
Initial management of the TIA patient is dependent upon the underlying vascular lesion. This is defined by brain imaging and neurovascular studies. For patients with greater than 70% extracranial carotid stenosis, carotid endarterectomy is indicated. For patients with established cardiac emboli source, anticoagulation is indicated. In other TIA patients, antiplatelet medication (aspirin, ticlopidine) is indicated. The choice of antiplatelet medication is dependent upon patient characteristics, eg, gender, race, angiographic abnormality. TIA patients are at high risk for developing completed stroke and emergency hospitalization is warranted after initial TIA.