The manuscripts in this book were generated from a conference occurring at the University of Heidelberg in September 1996. These manuscripts have been reviewed and updated by the designated authors in late 1997 for publication in early 1998. Conferences occur for a variety of reasons. These include the need to exchange information where complex activities are undergoing reassessment or change. For the emergency and critical care man agement of stroke this is certainly the situation. Today, both the pri mary care and the neurologic physician must provide medical care in an environment where daily change in the knowledge base of: brain function, disease mechanism(s), therapeutic efficacy, and cost control are all occurring. In addition, patient advocacy has become increasingly complex because government, employers, insurers, health care providers as well as families all desire a voice in the phy sician relationship with the patient. Our conference subject was the organization of rapid care delivery and the development of a ration al basis for treatment of a previously untreatable disorder acute stroke. Thus, the obvious need for multiple open and free discus sions about priority setting and modification of current treatment plans. Clearly, the face to face opportunities provided by this first conference on Emergency Management And Critical Care Of Stroke (EMACCOS) are required when patient care issues are as complex as these. Neuroscience is new to the experience of active therapeutic inter vention.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a neurovascular emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. With in-depth reviews of the clinical and biological aspects of the condition, this text provides an up-to-date coverage of this form of stroke. The book covers epidemiology, causes, clinical presentation, management and prognosis, and describes the ongoing research advances aimed at improving our understanding of the condition. The book fills an existing gap in the medical literature. The chapters discussing the clinical aspects of intracerebral hemorrhage are aimed at the practitioner directing the care of stroke victims. Chapters exploring the biology of pathophysiological events triggered by this disease will provide readers with current data directed to facilitate experimental research in this field of cerebrovascular neurology. It will appeal to clinicians and those with a research interest in cerebrovascular diseases.