Telephone Interview and Triage Although both the diagnostic evaluation and the initial care of many patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases are accomplished in the hospital, outpatient evaluation and treatment are…
Temporal Profile of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Diseases The general description of focal cerebral ischemic events is based on the patient’s temporal profile. The clinician should attempt to go beyond the profile,…
Differential Diagnosis Made Easy General Approach Differential diagnosis in cerebrovascular disease can be divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic disorders. After establishing that a condition is cerebrovascular and determining whether it…
Approach to the Comatose Patient Coma is a state of unarousable unresponsiveness (impairment of consciousness) in which the patient is unable to sense or respond noticeably to the environment. When…
Neurologic Examination Neurologic examination of the patient with cerebrovascular disease is similar to any other formal neurologic examination. However, certain combinations of neurologic signs may establish the location of the…
General Examination A systematic general examination of the patient with cerebrovascular disease is directed at finding evidence of disease of the cardiovascular system and at evaluation of the functional status…
Historical Evaluation of Key Signs and Symptoms A detailed history is the most important part of the evaluation of a patient with cerebrovascular disease. Initial attention should be directed toward…
General Medical Review The patient’s family history, medical history, and social and environmental history may provide information that clarifies the cause of an ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular event (Table 3-1)….
Systematic Clinical Assessment The clinician must call on comprehensive clinical assessment skills to provide the patient with an accurate and efficient diagnosis. Because many processes other than cerebrovascular disease may…
