Ischemic postconditioning is a concept for preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury in cerebral infarction. It has been evolved into experimental research by a broad range of stimuli/triggers and has not yet found its place in translational research. This review, therefore, first examines a potential clinical application of this concept and also provides insight into the phenomenon of trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) and its oxygen-conserving component as a pillar of the ischemic postconditioning concept in humans. This concept serves as an example that only innovative therapeutic approach will substantially improve the current stroke research
