Stroke, haemorrhagic and ischaemic, and transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Framing
- Stroke is first divided into ischaemic (vascular occlusion, ~85% of strokes) and haemorrhagic (vessel rupture, ~15%) - a distinction that determines the entire acute management pathway, since thrombolysis/thrombectomy (correct for ischaemic stroke) would be catastrophic if given for haemorrhage, making urgent non-contrast CT the essential first investigation before any reperfusion treatment
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - ischaemia without infarction, symptoms resolving within 24 hours - carries a high short-term risk of a subsequent completed stroke, making urgent risk stratification and secondary prevention initiation a time-critical priority even though the presenting episode has resolved
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