What is the prognosis for transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
A transient ischemic attack should be considered a major warning sign of an impending future stroke. Up to 10% of people will experience a stroke within three months of TIA. Since there is no way of predicting whether the next episode will resolve, the patient needs to be educated – that should symptoms occur, they need to access medical care immediately. Activating the emergency medical Services system and calling 911 is recommended. If a stroke occurs, there is a very short period of time where thrombolytic (clot dissolving) drugs, [for example, alteplase (TPA)], can be used to reverse a stroke. In most hospitals, the drug can only be given within three hours of onset of stroke symptoms. In that three hours, the patient needs to get to the hospital, the diagnosis needs to be made, laboratory tests and head CT scans need to be performed, neurologic consultation needs to occur, and the drug administered. The longer the delay, there is a higher the risk that the drug won’t work and that
