The Stroke Unit is a department in a hospital specializing in stroke patients. Here, a team of different professionals takes care of the entire care of the patient – from the acute therapy on the early rehabilitation to social services. This improves the chances of survival and can often prevent consequential damage. Learn more about “Stroke Unit” here!
Stroke Unit: Comprehensive treatment
A stroke unit is the organization center for the comprehensive care of stroke patients. They receive a very targeted and interdisciplinary treatment by a team of various specialists such as neurologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons and vascular surgeons as well as radiologists (X-ray specialists). They work closely together and create an individual treatment concept in order to be able to provide the best possible care for a patient. His chances of surviving the stroke and no permanent damage, increase by 25 percent.
What happens on a stroke unit?
After a stroke, a patient should be brought to a stroke unit as soon as possible. There, all necessary examinations and therapeutic measures are initiated immediately. These include, for example:
- Survey of the medical history (medical history)
- neurological examination
- intensive monitoring of basic parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiration
- Measurement of blood values and ECG
- Computed tomography (CT) of the head
- Monitoring of the neurological condition and alertness (vigilance)
- Monitoring the water balance and nutritional regime
- Diagnosis of dysphagia
- Monitoring and supply of pressure points
In addition, acute therapy is started immediately on the stroke unit: Depending on the needs, the patient receives, for example, antipyretic drugs, antibiotics, oxygen and infusions. If necessary, rehabilitation activities such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy are started as quickly as possible.
As a rule, a stroke patient stays on a stroke unit for three to five days. Thereafter, it is transferred to another ward (neurological ward or general ward) or transferred directly to a rehabilitation facility.
Seal of approval: Stroke Unit
In Germany, the first stroke units were created in the mid-1990s. There are now more than 280 such special facilities, certified by the Foundation German Stroke Help. The Stroke Unit’s seal of approval is only given to stroke departments that meet certain quality criteria that are continually updated. These criteria require, for example, that in a stroke unit certain specialists (such as neurologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, etc.) must always be present or available. Also a certain number of nurses per bed is required. The ward must also have a certain number of beds and equipment. Adherence to these quality criteria should ensure that stroke patients on one Stroke unit be supplied in the best possible way.