What is a stroke unit?
The term “stroke unit” comes from the American word for “stroke unit” or “stroke ward”. It is regarded as the organizational center for the comprehensive care of stroke patients.
Here, they receive highly targeted and interdisciplinary treatment from a team of various specialists such as neurologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons and radiologists (X-ray specialists). They work closely together and create an individual treatment concept to provide the patient with the best possible care. This increases the patient’s chances of surviving the stroke and not suffering any permanent damage by around 25 percent.
Mobile stroke units (STEMO)
Stroke units are now not only available in various hospitals. In Berlin, for example, they are even available as mobile units. These mobile stroke units (STroke Einsatz-MObile = STEMO) are specially equipped ambulances that can quickly reach the scene of an emergency. This allows specially trained medical personnel to immediately begin the necessary initial measures.
What happens in a stroke unit?
After a stroke, it is crucial for the prognosis that a patient is admitted to a stroke unit as quickly as possible. Doctors there immediately initiate all necessary examinations and treatment measures. These include, for example
- Taking the patient’s medical history (anamnesis)
- Neurological examination
- Intensive monitoring of basic parameters such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiration
- Measurement of blood values and ECG
- Computer tomography (CT) of the head
- Monitoring of the neurological condition and alertness (vigilance)
- Monitoring of water balance and nutrition
- Diagnosis of swallowing disorders
- Monitoring and treatment of pressure sores
In addition, doctors in the stroke unit immediately begin acute therapy: depending on requirements, the patient receives, for example, antipyretics, antibiotics, oxygen and infusions. If necessary, they also initiate rehabilitation measures such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy as quickly as possible.
As a rule, a stroke patient stays in a stroke unit for three to five days. After that, doctors usually transfer them to another ward (neurological ward or general ward) or refer them directly to a rehabilitation facility.
Seal of approval: Stroke Unit
These criteria require, for example, that certain specialists such as neurologists, cardiologists or neurosurgeons are always present or available in a stroke unit. A certain number of nursing staff per bed is also prescribed. The unit must also have a certain number of beds and equipment. Compliance with these quality criteria ensures that stroke patients receive the best possible care in a stroke unit.
