This non-randomized study surveys the prophylactic treatment of 154 patients after transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke in the carotid artery territory. Clinical presentation and etiologies were compared on the basis of the proposed prophylactic treatment. A surgical intervention or a long-lasting anticoagulation was restricted to only 30 patients (20%) due especially to the gravity of the ischemic cerebral lesions, general deterioration, and the advanced age of most of the patients. The purpose is to emphasize the "down-to-earth" situation in current medical care of non-selected patients as distinguished from the strictly selected patients of randomized studies. More importance should be done to open studies which better reflect the daily medical reality.