Management of the first-time transient ischaemic attack

The assessment and management of patients with a suspected transient ischaemic attack of the brain or eye is a daily task in busy emergency departments. They are common, affecting about 50 per 100 000 population each year. Conditions which mimic a transient ischaemic attack are even more common (e.g. migraine aura, partial seizures, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, hysteria). This comprehensive review outlines an approach to the management of this complex and challenging problem.