Stroke: Insights into Thromboembolism Treatment and Prevention through the Decades

(then under the name Thrombosis et Diasthesis Haemorrhagica), we felt that stroke could be an initial special focus, given the publication on this topic in Volume 1, Issue 1 of this journal. ay back in 1957, the era that 'the treatment for all cerebral vascular diseases was futile' 1 and 'the physician's choice lay between masterly inactivity and skilful neglect 2 ', was slowly giving its place to a period of progress in stroke prevention and treatment. At that time, physicians were beginning to feel optimistic that they had started climbing up the learning curve, although it was still clear that they 'did not consider present treatment entirely satisfactory'. If only Michael could share his optimism this evening. For the last 2 hours, he was lying on a bed in the emergency department of the hospital waiting for a physician to examine him and help him talk and move his right leg and hand again. It was easy for him to guess that he was having a "brain attack"many of his friends had suffered something similar, and many of them did not make it through. Next day, although dizzy, Michael could listen to the doctor talking to his daughter: