[First Brazilian consensus for the management of the acute phase of cerebral vascular accidents].

The cerebrovascular diseases have a high incidence, and they cause an enormous social and economic burden. With the increasing knowledge of the pathophysiology of the ischemic insult, and the possibility of the thrombolysis in the acute phase, the management of the stroke patients is considered an emergency. This consensus is the result of a recent meeting to establish a better approach to these patients. This is the official guideline for the management of patients with acute stroke of the Brazilian Cerebrovascular Disease Society.