Improving safety for the neurologic patient: Evaluating medications, literacy, and abuse

Abstract

# {#article-title-2} To the Editor: I read with interest the recent article on improving safety for the neurologic patient.1 The article highlighted issues of medications, literacy, and abuse. Another aspect of patient safety for the neurologist is preventing patients from undergoing unnecessary procedures. A 79-year-old woman with a history of coronary artery disease had a carotid ultrasound in a cardiology office. She had moderate carotid stenosis and was advised to have an angiogram, which showed 40% stenosis bilaterally. Four hours after this procedure, she developed sudden onset of right-sided hemiparesis and aphasia. The patient was treated with thrombolysis but still suffered a large anterior cerebral artery infarct. She required intensive care for …