ABSTRACT
The approach to stroke therapy has changed dramatically in the past few years from that of mere supportive care to aggressive intervention aimed at limiting ischemic brain injury. Although prompt recanalization of an occluded vessel can prevent cerebral infarction, attention to medical details may help to salvage tissue at risk. The only therapy shown to improve outcome from acute ischemic stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) administered intravenously within three hours of stroke onset, which is discussed in Chapter 19 . In this chapter, a rational approach to the medical management of patients with acute ischemic stroke based on data from experimental studies and observational trials , is presented .
