[Is a transitory ischemic accident diagnosed during inpatient or outpatient care?]

Both transient ischemic attacks (AIT) and minor strokes are common clinical findings in cerebro-vascular disease. They are warnings of the presence of a high risk that a more serious ictus may subsequently occur and cause irreversible lesions. Although only 40% of all strokes are preceded by AIT, and a first ictus may itself be serious, there are now available effective methods of treatment which can reduce the risk of a serious ictus in patients who have had AIT. There is also a higher death rate and greater risk of ischaemic cardiopathy in these patients. Since this risk is higher during the first month, all patients with recent AIT should be treated as emergency cases. If delay in diagnosis and treatment of cerebro-vascular disease may be costly for both the patient and the health system, in AIT this is particularly so.