Wutzler A, et al. - In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), researchers assessed the present clinical practice of prevention of medical strokes in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. In April 2017, all 298 certified stroke units in Germany received a standardized anonymous questionnaire. In more than 90% of AF patients with ischemic stroke, anticoagulation during the acute stroke phase is considered feasible. In the minority of patients, the stroke unit deliberates with the treating general practitioner the prescription of a specific oral anticoagulant. As demonstrated by the results of this survey, in German stroke units the early prevention of secondary strokes in patients with AF is based on the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) but in clinical practice, the methods of prescription vary.