• Timothy L Lavin and Annemarei Ranta.
• Department of Neurology, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
• J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014 Feb 1; 23 (2): 267-70.

BackgroundTo assess the safety of a Transient Ischameic Attack (TIA)/Stroke Electronic Decision Support (EDS) tool in the primary care setting intended to aid general practitioners in the timely management of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).MethodsA 14-month safety audit reviewing all patients managed with the help of the TIA/Stroke EDS tool. Major morbidity and mortality were assessed by screening patients for subsequent hospital admissions and investigating potential links to EDS use.ResultsSeventy-nine patients were managed with the aid of the TIA/Stroke EDS. EDS use resulted in 8 appropriate immediate hospital admissions because of patients being at high risk of stroke. Three patients had delayed admission, but care was fully guideline based and patients had no adverse outcome. Eleven admissions were unrelated to EDS use. Two deaths occurred; these did not result from inappropriate EDS advice.ConclusionsResults suggest that TIA/Stroke EDS use is not associated with major morbidity or mortality. Larger studies are needed to draw more definite conclusions regarding the utility of this TIA/Stroke EDS in preventing strokes.Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. All rights reserved.

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