Surely the big difference between unstable angina and TIAs is that
unstable angina you can do something about (and treat if they go on to
have an MI in hospital) whereas a TIA you can do nothing about (apart
from aspirin) and neither can you do anything about a stroke if they go
on to have one (outside of research into thrombolysis).
Of course if the patient is in AF then you should consider admitting
and treat certainly with aspirin, and possibly warfarin if the past
history of the AF is unknown anyway, and these need an inpatient echo,
but if not the duplex can be done as an outpatient as the wait for that
will pale into insignificance compared to the wait for endarterectomy if
required.
--
Sam Waddy
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