Ischemic stroke therapy

Abstract

Stroke is the most common life-threatening neurologic disease and the leading cause of serious long-term disability. The advent of new treatment options for selected patients suffering ischemic stroke (such as systemic administration of tissue plasminogen activator or catheter-guided intra-arterial thrombolysis), the structural reorganization of patient care facilities into stroke units, and interdisciplinary cerebrovascular centers have broadened the scope of possible therapeutic interventions in the acute and post-acute phase after cerebral ischemia. This review summarizes currently available and recommended treatment modalities for acute ischemic stroke from an interdisciplinary perspective, including medical, neurointerventional, and neurosurgical therapies.