Recent Trends in Therapy of Cerebral Vascular Disease

Abstract

The various measures available for the therapy of a patient with a stroke have been discussed. The value of vigorous conservative therapy has been emphasized. The role of anticoagulant drugs has been detailed. This mode of therapy seems most efficacious in treatment of recurrent transient ischemic attacks and the slowly progressive stroke. The value of anticoagulants in the acute phase of cerebral thrombosis and in long-term postinfarction therapy is not clear as yet. The role of anticoagulant drugs in treatment of cerebral embolism seems well established. It may be wise to delay institution of these drugs for 24 to 36 hours after the acute stroke. Surgical procedures give promise of value in certain well-defined syndromes. The patient with cerebral hemorrhage remains a formidable therapeutic problem.