What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
Transient ischemic attack is an abrupt onset neurologic deficit due to interruption of blood flow to a portion of the brain, followed by complete symptom resolution.
If the interruption continues long enough, an ischemic stroke will result. By classic definition TIA deficits resolve within 24 hours; however, contemporary definitions define it as lasting under 1 hour.
In fact, most resolve within 5 to 15 minutes.
Transient neurologic symptoms of unclear etiology are most appropriately referred to as spells ; only those thought to be due to brain ischemia should be referred to as TIAs .
