ACUTE STROKE - EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE INTERVENTIONS

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. Early intervention in the emergency department has become increasingly important in improvi ng stroke outcome as effective therapies are used. Current emergency e valuation and management of ischemic (thromboembolic) stroke, intracer ebral hemorrhage, cerebellar stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and tran sient ischemic attacks is discussed. Recent developments in stroke the rapeutics including thrombolytics, low-molecular-weight heparins, exci tatory amino acid antagonists, free radical scavengers, gangliosides, and leukocyte inhibitors are reviewed.