ABSTRACT
Brain attack can be defi ned as a sudden onset of focal cerebral symptoms of presumed vascular origin. If symptoms disappear within 24 hr of onset, the event is defi ned as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). If symptoms persist beyond 24 hr, the event is defi ned as a stroke. As more and more patients are seen within 6 hr of symptom onset, it is diffi cult to predict which will ultimately be a TIA and which will be a stroke; hence, the need to triage “brain attack” as a lifethreatening emergency for urgent hospital referral, investigation, and treatment.
