Stroke: Faster treatments are required for TIAsConcern over mini strokes
Faster diagnosis and treatment of mini strokes has been called for with the publication of new clinical guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
Mini strokes, also known as transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), lead to a full stroke within a month for 20% of patients. As symptoms of TIAs last for less than 24 hours, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment is vital if patients are to achieve maximum recovery.
Patients with a suspected TIA should be seen at a specialist clinic within seven days and receive preventative stroke treatment immediately, according to the RCP. Only a fraction of hospitals currently offer this service.
The report also said more rehabilitation techniques such as speech and occupational therapies were needed to create tailored programmes for patients to help treat the long-term effects of their condition.
The Stroke Association has supported the new guidelines. The charity recommends TIA patients should also receive a surgery procedure called carotid endarterectomy within two weeks, instead of the current practice of several months.
Dr Joanne Knight, associate director of research and development at the charity, said: "Stroke is currently the UK's third biggest killer, and as such should be treated as a medical emergency. Better organisation of existing therapies could make a real difference to a person's outcome after their stroke."
