Acute stroke. Emergency management and future interventions.

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. Early intervention in the emergency department has become increasingly important in improving stroke outcome as effective therapies are used. Current emergency evaluation and management of ischemic (thromboembolic) stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebellar stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and transient ischemic attacks is discussed. Recent developments in stroke therapeutics including thrombolytics, low-molecular-weight heparins, excitatory amino acid antagonists, free radical scavengers, gangliosides, and leukocyte inhibitors are reviewed.