The American Stroke Association/American Heart Association Guidelines
are intended to distill a vast amount of information to support the
practice of evidence-based medicine. Yet clinical guideline statements
can be a challenge to use and apply in routine practice. In addition,
patients are often encountered for whom the available guidelines do
not seem to apply directly.

The development of practice guidelines is only one step in the process
of improving clinical care. The American Stroke Association/American
Heart Association is dedicated not only to increasing knowledge related
to stroke and cardiovascular diseases but also to translating the best
available science in a way that informs and improves the health and
outcomes of both patients and the general public.

This book is intended to help bridge the gap between guidelines and
practice. The book is divided into two sections. Chapters in the first
section deal with general issues, and those in the second section with
focused topics. Each chapter.s major points are highlighted in a bullet
point table. To provide clinical context, each chapter begins with
a patient example that is referred to in the subsequent discussion.
Some chapters use several illustrative cases. The ASA/AHA guidelines
are referenced wherever applicable; however, clinical issues not covered
in available guidelines are also reviewed. Although taking a clinical
perspective, each chapter is thoroughly referenced, providing helpful
content for both generalists and stroke specialists.

Clinicians think in terms of people, not guidelines. By example, the
approach taken in this book should serve to help providers integrate
the information provided in the ASA/AHA guidelines into their practices
to the betterment of their patients.

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