Anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy for acute ischemic stroke

Acute ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death in Canada and should be a priority in health care. This paper defines acute ischaemic stroke and provides current statistics, economic costs, risk factors, treatments, and management options. A gap between current practice and literature is identified. Specific treatments of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy are explored through systematic reviews, clinical trials, and national guidelines. Considerable consistency in research findings have led to evidenced-based guidelines. Implications for practice, including barriers and facilitators to incorporating evidence-based recommendations are identified. The study concludes with an identification of current provincial guidelines that will provide best patient care in treating patients with acute ischaemic stroke.