- None of the current short term risk stratification tools for TIA perform well enough to identify patients for outpatient versus pre-discharge work-up.
- Large artery atherosclerosis (usually carotid bifurcation stenosis) accounts for the largest proportion of early strokes after TIA; therefore, a crucial part of the pre-discharge work-up is assessment for carotid stenosis.
- Level C data indicate carotid ultrasonography, MRA and CTA have similar accuracy for carotid screening.
- An EKG and continuous cardiac monitoring are indicated while a TIA patient is being evaluated in the ED or observation unit. Ambulatory or continuous cardiac telemetry for a few weeks after TIA or minor stroke detects AF significantly more frequently than conventional AF evaluation methods