MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA) AT SESTRE MILOSRDNICE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CENTER

SUMMARY – Improved outcomes were observed in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients after implementation of recommendations for stroke management and after multiple interventions such as public campaigns focused on raising awareness of stroke and reorganization of health servi-ces. The aim of this study was to describe reorganization of in-hospital services to improve the ma-nagement of patients suspected of having TIA or stroke, and to validate these measures with patient outcomes. Data on 5219 patients examined between January 1 and December 31, 2008 at emergency neurology outpatient department were analyzed. Patients were referred by general practitioners, emergency physicians, or were brought by relatives without being previously seen by health services staff. The emergency services department is intended to improve care for TIA patients, providing a short standardized clinical assessment followed by initiation of a comprehensive stroke prevention program. Demographic data, risk factors, stroke type, previous TIA history, ABCD2 scores and admission rates were analyzed. A total of 1057 patients suspected of having stroke or TIA were examined. There were 447 patients with ischemic stroke (mean age 73+11 years, 196 males) and 99 patients with TIA (mean age 67+14 years, 55 males). Parenchymal hemorrhage was diagnosed in 5