[Neuro-cardiology or cardio-neurology - a new specialization of the future?]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Neurology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Acute ischemic stroke is a major cardiovascular disease with significant neurological impact.
• Optimal patient management necessitates close collaboration between neurologists and cardiologists.
• Existing neurointerventional services have gaps in population coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration in managing acute ischemic stroke.
• To explore the potential of interventional cardiology to enhance neurointerventional services.
• To propose the emergence of a new medical subspecialty: neurocardiology or cardioneurology.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent randomized trials on acute ischemic stroke treatments.
• Analysis of the capabilities and service models of interventional cardiology.
• Conceptual framework for integrating neurointerventional and interventional cardiology services.

Main Results:

• Catheter-based thrombectomy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for selected acute ischemic stroke patients.
• Interventional cardiology's infrastructure can address unmet needs in neurointerventional care.
• A synergistic approach can improve patient outcomes and access to care.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced collaboration between neurology and cardiology is crucial for acute ischemic stroke management.
• Interventional cardiology can significantly contribute to expanding neurointerventional treatment accessibility.
• The development of neurocardiology/cardioneurology represents a future direction for integrated cardiovascular and neurological care.