ABSTRACT
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of severe disability in adults. In total, 795,000 strokes occur annually in the United States, of which 692,000 (87%) are ischemic and 103,000 (13%) are hemorrhagic.1 The diagnostic evaluation and treatment approach vary between these two major classes of stroke. Current treatment approaches for acute ischemic stroke include intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA), thrombolytic and/or mechanical intra-arterial therapies (IATs), and combined IV and intra-arterial (IA) therapy. Current therapeutic options for hemorrhagic stroke vary by the location and etiology.
