Selective intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute stroke: Implications for emergency management

Stroke, the most common life-threatening neurological disease, is a problem encountered frequently in the acute phase. Therapeutic options in this major cause of death and disability have previously been considered limited. Two cases of acute stroke are presented in which emergency treatment with selective intraarterial thrombolysis resulted in significant resolution of neurological deficits. The necessity for treating acute stroke as a medical emergency and management implications in the acute phase are discussed.