Without warning stroke can paralyze, blind, or kill. Some victims recover, but many do not and may even suffer another disabling or fatal attack. The drug known as tPA can drastically reduce the long-term disability associated with stroke, but despite its near-miraculous capabilities and the growing support of most neurologists, it has been slow to win acceptance as the standard of care in emergency departments nationwide. tPA for Stroke chronicles how this remarkable drug came to be tested in stroke victims, its early years in development by the pharmaceutical giant Genentech, and its eventual marginalization due to a convergence of unfavorable political, fiscal, and medical circumstances. For instance, initially many stroke specialists were unconvinced that the drug's benefits outweigh its risks (tPA was originally developed and is still used for cardiac patients). Moreover, neurologists called upon to assess stroke patients have not typically been trained to make decisions in emergency settings--and tPA must be given within a scant few hours after stroke. These and other factors have continued to delay the drug's universal acceptance as the most effective treatment available, and to hamper the general public's awareness that such a treatment exists--a troubling state of affairs that Zivin and Simmons argue must be rectified. Instilling the knowledge that anyone, at any time, is susceptible to stroke, from the old and infirm to the young and healthy, tPA for Stroke is a clarion call to awareness in a rapidly changing healthcare environment in which stroke, long a disease in thrall to resignation and pessimism, must be neglected no longer.

With an editorial team of leading experts from the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Heart Association, this book is the first complete, clinically oriented reference textbook in emergency cardiovascular care and CPR. The book translates bench research to the clinician's bedside needs and addresses end-of-life issues. The content is appropriate for a large audience including early caregivers, emergency department and CCU nurses, students, residents, fellows, and hospitalists responsible for cardiovascular emergency situations. A companion Website will include the fully searchable text, instructional videos produced by the AHA, and links to ACC, AHA, ASE, ACEP, and ILCOR guidelines and policy statements.

This book is a unique source of practical information for frontline providers of care for stroke patients. It focuses on patient management—from stroke prevention through acute stroke management, through chronic care—and offers how-to guidance on implementing diagnostic and treatment protocols. Each chapter includes a bulleted list of key learning points; an evidence-based rationale for why the diagnostic and treatment recommendations work; a step-by-step approach to clinical application; practical recommendations from the authors; a critical pathway; and a bibliography. An entire chapter focuses on building a stroke team. Appendices include reproducible samples of order sets and a list of important medications.

This volume provides a comprehensive exploration of stroke, from basic mechanisms of disease to enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. The ongoing efforts within the neurological community are also highlighted, bringing a better understanding of the pathophysiological basis of this disorder. Clinicians will find invaluable information that can be used to enhance the lives of an aging global population. Covered topics include the functional anatomy of the brain itself, as well as advancements in the understanding of the biochemical background of strokes. Related fields and their dramatic impact on stroke research are also included, with findings in the fields of epidemiology, genetics, neuroimaging, and interventional radiology thoroughly explored. In addition, great attention is paid to therapeutic avenues, including investigation, prevention, and patient management.

Stroke Sourcebook, Fifth Edition provides detailed information about stroke, its causes, and types such as Ischemic, hemorrhagic and recurrent stroke.

During the 1990's, scientific advances in understanding the mechanisms and pathophysiology of acute central nervous system injury were offset by a history of disappointing results from Phase III clinical trials of novel neuroprotective drugs. Numerous novel compounds were "tested, and seemingly fell by the wayside. This book is intended to focus on novel therapies and the unique challenges their intended targets pose for the design and analysis of clinical trials. The authors explore the issues facing research in this area and the strategies that might lead to future success in this critical area of unmet medical need. It represents a compendium of information gained from over 20 years of clinical trial experience in areas of acute neurology and neurosurgery. From the knowledge of clinical assessment using standardized tools, to the intricate design of difficult hyper-acute neuroemergencies trials, the reader will benefit from the authors' perspectives.* Presents new perspectives on acute neuroemergency clinical trials * Includes insights from clinical pharmacology and industry perspectives* Discusses historical lessons learned from early and recent trials in acute neuroscience populations

Stroke Essentials for Primary Care: A Practical Guide is a must-have resource, offering the essential, practical knowledge required to evaluate and treat stroke patients. While an indispensable guide for primary care clinicians, including family practitioners and medical internists who often assume the care of stroke patients without the aid of a neurologist (primarily in underserved areas), the information contained herein is also an invaluable resource to all physicians in training, especially residents and fellows in neurology, cardiology, and surgery, among others. Stroke Essentials for Primary Care: A Practical Guide provides the latest diagnostic and treatment information that allows for greater clinical confidence. Designed to allow easy access to essential information, most chapters include a quick summary of their content and conclusions. Chapters review information on such topics as distinguishing features of presentation, rapid determination of stroke type, prevention strategies, long-term complications, and special topics that may apply to specific populations. Targeted and easy to read, Stroke Essentials for Primary Care: A Practical Guide is an essential resource for all practitioners in primary care medicine and specialty physicians in training.

Designed for use by busy professionals who need quick answers, this revised and updated second edition of The Stroke Book is a concise and practical reference for anyone involved in managing critically ill cerebrovascular patients. • Covers a wide range of common conditions such as ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, subarachnoid hemorrhages and intracranial aneurysms • Provides focused protocols for assessing and treating stroke patients in the emergency room, intensive care unit or general hospital setting • A new chapter summarizes key clinical trials for stroke therapies • User-friendly format • Packed with algorithms, tables and summary boxes for immediate access to key information • A color plate section illustrates key pathology and diagnostic imaging Written by experienced contributors from leading stroke centers, this is an essential companion for navigating stroke-related clinical situations successfully and making informed decisions about treatment.

The 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 2011 provides rapid-access information on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of over 900 medical conditions. This best-selling clinical content is accessible online with the enhanced, quarterly-updated site or on your mobile device, to ensure instant point-of-care access to information in whichever format best suits your needs. The content has been updated to include 20 new topics, more evidence-based medicine ratings, expanded clinical pearls and patient education sections, additional complementary and alternative medicine material, and updated ICD-9 codes highlighted within the text. The online content has been enhanced and now contains a better and faster search functionality providing answers in 30 seconds or less. It continues to have fully searchable content of the book with links to PubMed, plus additional topics not covered in the print book. The online content also has over 1,000 English and Spanish patient handouts from AAFP; full-color images; videos of medical procedures and physical therapy; a new dermatology library; drug databases from Facts & Comparisons including monographs, images, interactions and updates; and laboratory information from the new edition of Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests. This content is updated quarterly with new topics, medical procedure videos, more diagnostic images, drugs, and more. You can access all your 5-Minute Consult content using any web enabled mobile device, including Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Android, Palm, Windows PC, iPhone, or iPod Touch. Begin integrating the 5-Minute content into your daily workflow today.

This volume sets a basis for effective translational research. Authored by experts in the field of translational stroke research, each chapter specifically addresses one or more components of preclinical stroke research. The emphasis is placed on target identification and drug development using state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo assays, in combination with in vitro toxicology assays, AMDE and clinical design.