Abstract
As the risk of early stroke following transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is increasingly recognised, the management of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of TIA presents a clinical challenge. Analysis of prospectively collected data on patients referred to a TIA clinic in St. Vincent's University Hospital, between January 2003 and July 2004. One-hundred-and-seventeen (117) patients (mean age 75.5 years) were assessed. The majority (79%) were referred from Accident and Emergency and 61% were seen within one week of referral. Seventy-two patients (62%) had a final diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease (56 TIA, 16 completed strokes), of whom five (7%) and four (5.5%) had severe (> 70%) and moderate (> 50%) symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, respectively, whilst seven patients (10%) had newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation, five of whom were anticoagulated. Non-cerebrovascular diagnoses were made in twenty-seven patients (24%). A TIA clinic, in co-ordination with Accident and Emergency Services, provides a safe and efficient alternative to hospital admission for patients with TIA symptoms and a low early stroke risk.
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