Ischaemic usually embolic neurological event with symptoms that resolve within 24hr
Without intervention 1 in 12 patients subsequently have a Stroke within a week
Causes/Factors
Signs
Specific to the arterial territory involved
- Amaurosis fugax - temporal loss/darkening of vision (retinal artery occlusion). Unilateral vision loss
- Global events not typical
Diagnostic Tests
- CT/MRI
- Echo
- FBC, ESR, U&Es, glucose, lipids,
- ECG
- Carotid doppler angiography
Management
-
Control cardiovascular risk factors
-
Antiplatelet drugs - 300mg Aspirin OD for 2 weeks, then switch to 75mg Clopidogrel
-
Driving is prohibited for at least 1 month afterwards
Complications/red Flags
Emergency referral scoring tool: ABCD
A score of 4+ indicates high risk of early Stroke and must be seen by specialist within 24hr