Transient ischemic attack

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Background

  • Abbreviation: TIA
  • New Definition: a brief episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain or retinal ischemia, with clinical symptoms typically lasting less than one hour, and without evidence of acute infarction. [1]
    • Should be viewed as analogous to unstable angina
  • Classic Definition: A sudden, focal neurologic deficit that lasts for less than 24 hours, is presumed to be of vascular origin, and is confined to an area of the brain or eye perfused by a specific artery[1]
  • Since 15% of strokes are preceded by TIA, timely eval of high risk conditions like Atrial Fibrillation and Carotid Stenosis is important

Clinical Features

  • Focal weakness (Paralysis or paresis of the face, arm, or leg and typically unilateral)
  • Dysarthria or dysphasia or aphasia
  • Vision changes (Field deficits, blindness, or diplopia)
  • Changes in balance or coordination

Differential Diagnosis

Stroke-like Symptoms

Evaluation

Stroke Work-Up

  • Labs
    • POC glucose
    • CBC
    • Chemistry
    • Coags
    • Troponin
    • T&S
  • ECG
    • In large ICH or stroke, may see deep TWI and prolong QT, occ ST changes
  • Head CT (non-contrast)
    • In ischemia stroke CT has sensitivity 42%, specificity 91%[2]
    • In acute ICH the sensitivity is 95-100%[3]
    • The goal of CTH is to identify stroke mimics (ICH, mass lesions, etc .)[4]
  • Also consider:
    • CTA brain and neck (to check for large vessel occlusion for potential thrombectomy)
    • Pregnancy test
    • CXR (if infection suspected)
    • UA (if infection suspected)
    • Utox (if ingestion suspected)

MR Imaging (for Rule-Out CVA or TIA)

  • MRI Brain with DWI (without contrast) AND
  • Cervical vascular imaging (ACEP Level B in patients with high short-term risk for stroke):[5]
    • MRA brain (without contrast) AND
    • MRA neck (without contrast)
      • May instead use Carotid CTA or US (Carotid US slightly less sensitive than MRA)[6] (ACEP Level C)

Management

  • Little acute management (given normally resolution of symptoms)
  • Consider aspirin (once hemorrhage ruled-out)

Disposition

ABCD2 Score[7]

  • Risk of stroke at 2d, 7d, and 90d from TIA
  • Although prognostic, evidence-based admission thresholds have not been determined
  • None with score <3 had CVA within one week in study

Scoring

  • Age >60yr (1 pt)
  • BP (SBP >140 OR diastolic >90) (1 pt)
  • Clinical Features
    • Isolated speech disturbance (1 pt)
    • Unilateral weakness (2 pts)
  • Duration of symptoms
    • 10-59 min (1 pt)
    • >60 min (2 pts)
  • Diabetes mellitus (1 pt)
Points Stroke Risk Two Days Seven Days 90 Days
0-3 Low 1.0% 1.2% 3.1%
4-5 Moderate 4.1% 5.9% 9.8%
6-7 High 8.1% 11.7% 17.8%

AHA/ASA Guidelines[8]

  • Reasonable to hospitalize patients with TIA who present within 72 hr of symptom onset and have:
    • ABCD2 score of ≥ 3
    • ABCD2 score of 0-2 and uncertainty that diagnostic workup can be completed within 2d as outpatient
    • ABCD2 score of 0-2 and other evidence that event was caused by focal ischemia

NSA Guidelines[9]

  • Hospitalization for patients with first TIA within past 24-48hr
  • Recommended admission for patients with the following:
    • Crescendo TIA (more than three TIAs in 72hr period)
    • Duration of symptoms >1hr
    • Symptomatic carotid stenosis >50%
    • Known cardiac source of embolus
    • Known hypercoaguable state
    • High risk of early stroke after TIA

ACEP Guidelines[5]

  • Level B: In adult patients with suspected TIA, do not rely on current existing risk stratification instruments (eg, age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of TIA and presence of diabetes [ABCD2] score) to identify TIA patients who can be safely discharged from the ED.
    • In contrast to the 2009 AHA/ASA recommendations that were based on limited research, the ABCD2 does not sufficiently identify the short-term risk for stroke to use alone as a risk-stratification instrument.
    • Multiple other risk-stratification instruments have been evaluated less frequently than the ABCD2 score. None have demonstrated the ability to identify individual patients at sufficiently low short-term risk for stroke to use alone as a risk-stratification instrument.
  • Level B: A rapid ED based diagnostic protocol can be used to safely identify patients at short-term risk for stroke.
    • Study based on observation units and outpatient TIA clinics[10]
Example of a rapid ED protocol for TIA

External Links

MDCalc ABCD2 Score

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Albers GW, et al. The TIA Working Group. Transient ischemic attack: proposal for a new definition. N Engl J Med. 2002; 347:1713–1716.
  2. ↑ Mullins ME, Schaefer PW, Sorensen AG, Halpern EF, Ay H, He J, Koroshetz WJ, Gonzalez RG. CT and conventional and diffusion-weighted MR imaging in acute stroke: study in 691 patients at presentation to the emergency department. Radiology. 2002 Aug;224(2):353-60.
  3. ↑ Suarez JI, Tarr RW, Selman WR. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. N Engl J Med. 2006; 354(4):387–396.
  4. ↑ Douglas VC, Johnston CM, Elkins J, et al. Head computed tomography findings predict short-term stroke risk after transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2003;34:2894-2899.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 ACEP Clinical Policy: Suspected Transient Ischemic Attackfull text
  6. ↑ Nederkoorn PJ, Mali WP, Eikelboom BC, et al. Preoperative diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis. Accuracy of noninvasive testing. Stroke. 2002;33:2003-2008.
  7. ↑ Johnston SC, et al. Validation and refinement of scores to predict very early stroke risk after transient ischaemic attack.Lancet. 2007; 369(9558):283-92.
  8. ↑ Easton JD, et al. Definition and evaluation of transient ischemic attack. A scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Stroke. 2009; 40:2276-2293.
  9. ↑ Johnston SC, et al. National Stroke Association guidelines for the management of transient ischemic attacks. Ann Neurol. 2006; 60(3):301-13.
  10. ↑ Ross MA, Compton S, Medado P, et al. An emergency department diagnostic protocol for patients with transient ischemic attack: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;50:109-119
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