A 67-year-old man develops sudden right arm weakness and expressive dysphasia lasting 20 minutes. He is now asymptomatic. Capillary glucose is normal, there is no head injury or bleeding history, and intracranial haemorrhage is not suspected. What is the most appropriate immediate management?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A Give aspirin 300 mg now and arrange specialist assessment within 24 hours
Sudden right arm weakness and expressive dysphasia that resolves completely within 20 minutes is a suspected TIA in the left carotid territory. The risk of stroke is highest in the first few days, so speed matters. NICE NG128 recommends aspirin 300 mg immediately, unless there is a contraindication: a bleeding disorder, anticoagulation, or suspicion of intracranial haemorrhage, in which case imaging comes first. It also recommends referral for specialist assessment within 24 hours of symptom onset. NICE advises against using risk scores such as ABCD2 to decide who is seen urgently, because everyone with a suspected TIA should be seen within 24 hours. The specialist assessment usually includes MRI (diffusion-weighted imaging), urgent carotid imaging, ECG and rhythm monitoring for atrial fibrillation, and vascular risk factors. Secondary prevention follows: antiplatelet therapy, statin, blood pressure control, and carotid endarterectomy if there is significant symptomatic stenosis. He should not drive for at least 1 month.
- Key clue
- A sudden focal neurological deficit has completely resolved and haemorrhage is not suspected.
- What it means
- This is a suspected TIA requiring immediate secondary prevention and urgent assessment.
- What to do
- Give aspirin 300 mg immediately and arrange specialist assessment within 24 hours.
Why the other options are less appropriate
- B NICE advises against using ABCD2 to decide urgency. Everyone with a suspected TIA should be seen within 24 hours.
- C Haemorrhage is not suspected, so aspirin should not wait for an outpatient MRI.
- D Therapeutic heparin is not routine treatment for TIA. It risks bleeding without proven benefit unless there is another indication.
- E A routine appointment at 6 weeks misses the period when the risk of stroke is highest.
Source: NICE NG128: Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s — recommendations 1.1.4 to 1.1.6