Hyperacute management of ischemic strokes, a British perspective

Stroke is a common disease that has a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The World Stroke Organization states that there are over 12.2 million strokes a year, with 1 in 4 people over the age of 25 predicted to have a stroke in their lifetime. The British data shows that there are around 150,000 stroke related admissions every year in the UK, with strokes occurring at an increasing earlier age. Strokes are generally classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic, with approximately 83% of all patients presenting with an ischemic stroke. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the acute management of ischemic stroke in our center—a secondary care specialist hospital in the Northeast of England, with approximately 1000 stroke admissions a year.