Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Update

Acute stroke is the second cause of death worldwide, generating high costs in its treatment and recovery, as well as a great socioeconomic impact, being the main cause of long-term disability. Although, the simple computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain is still the neuroimage recommended by the international guidelines for the initial evaluation and decision making on the management of the patient with suspected stroke, recent years have witnessed extraordinary advances in the timely and early diagnosis of stroke, with new tools, from the standardization of cerebral angiotomography as an initial study, to perfusion techniques which allows to establish the nucleus of the area and the potentially salvageable surrounding area, as well as, therapies that give the patient support to the functionality and quality of life in the medium and long term. Taking into account the above, it is of vital importance an update on the available methods and on the different options available according to the case of each patient for acute stroke, with a practical clinical approach and applicable real health scenario in Colombia.