Transient Ischemic Attacks

This book was born from the synthesis of the rapidly proliferating field of cerebrovascular disease research, excitement about effective new imaging and therapeutic strategies, and the need to timely educate clinicians about the changing playing field for a common, serious and expensive syndrome - transient ischemic attacks (TIA). TIAs can now stand on their own as an important, and, at times, unique aspect of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease, distinct enough to warrant a textbook in its own right. With new information on a worrisome and serious natural history, growing knowledge of risk factors and their management, sophisticated neuroimaging techniques, and a broadening armamentarium of therapeutic approaches, the clinician is now faced with multiple levels of decision making. Does one admit the patient with a recent TIA to the hospital? What are the optimal imaging and diagnostic strategies? What antiplatelet agent to use? What is the role for surgery and interventional techniques? How do I optimally control associated risk factors? This book serves to provide the most current information to help guide clinicians through the best decisions to care for their patients, using evidence-based recommendations when available and expert opinion when no good data exist.Content: Chapter 1 The Epidemiology of Transient Ischemic Attacks (pages 1–30): Matthew L. Flaherty and Robert D. BrownChapter 2 Pathophysiology of Brain Ischemia (pages 31–72): Jin?Moo Lee, Abdullah M. Nassief and Chung Y. HsuChapter 3 Clinical Syndromes—Brain (pages 73–92): Sandeep Kumar and Louis R. CaplanChapter 4 Clinical Syndromes—Ocular: Transient Visual Loss (pages 93–115): Gregory P. Van StavernChapter 5 Head CT and MRI Findings in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attacks (pages 117–136): Chelsea S. Kidwell and Jeffrey L. SaverChapter 6 Single–Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (pages 137–161): Colin P. Derdeyn and William J. PowersChapter 7 Cerebrovascular Ultrasound (pages 162–187): Janet L. WilterdinkChapter 8 Cardiac Diagnositc Studies (pages 188–213): Marco R. Di Tullio and Shunichi HommaChapter 9 Coagulation Studies (pages 214–231): Karen Furie, Peter J. Kelly and J. Philip KistlerChapter 10 Antiplatelet Therapy (pages 233–252): Michael J. SchneckChapter 11 Role of Oral Anticoagulants (pages 253–263): Richard K. T. Chan, Seemant Chaturvedi and Patrick PullicinoChapter 12 Heparin and Related Compounds (pages 264–280): James F. MeschiaChapter 13 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment (pages 281–308): George Grunberger and Fadi Al?KhayerChapter 14 Hypertension Treatment (pages 309–329): John M. Flack, Neel Patel, Vishal Mehra and Samar NasserChapter 15 Other Medical Therapies (pages 330–347): Bradley S. Jacobs, Mar Castellanos and Ramesh MadhavanChapter 16 Thrombolysis for Acute Transient Ischemic Attack and Mild Stroke (pages 348–364): Michael R. Frankel and James BichselChapter 17 Surgery for Stroke Prevention (pages 365–381): Larry B. GoldsteinChapter 18 Angioplasty and Stenting (pages 382–414): Alex Abou?Chebl and Jay S. YadavChapter 19 Cost Effectiveness Issues (pages 415–431): Susan L. HickenbottomChapter 20 Clinical Vignettes (pages 432–438): Seemant Chaturvedi