Stroke Unit
Martina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
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The Stroke Unit is a department in a hospital that specializes in stroke patients. Here a team of various specialists takes care of the entire care of the patient - from acute therapy to early rehabilitation to social services. This improves the chances of survival and can often prevent consequential damage. Find out more about the "Stroke Unit" here!
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. G45I63I64I61I69
Stroke Unit: Comprehensive Treatment
A stroke unit is the organizational center for the comprehensive care of stroke patients. They receive 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. Their chances of surviving the stroke and not suffering any permanent damage are increased by 25 percent.
What happens in a stroke unit?
After a stroke, a patient should be brought to a stroke unit as quickly as possible. All necessary examinations and therapeutic measures are initiated there immediately. These include, for example:
- Collection of the medical history (anamnesis)
- neurological examination
- intensive monitoring of basic parameters such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature and breathing
- Measurement of blood values and EKG
- Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head
- Monitoring of the neurological condition and alertness (vigilance)
- Monitoring of the water balance and nutritional regime
- Diagnostics of swallowing disorders
- Monitoring and supply of pressure points
In addition, acute therapy is started immediately in the stroke unit: Depending on the needs, the patient receives, for example, antipyretic agents, antibiotics, oxygen and infusions. If necessary, rehabilitation measures such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy are started as quickly as possible.
A stroke patient usually stays on a stroke unit for three to five days. He is then transferred to another ward (neurological ward or general ward) or referred directly to a rehabilitation facility.
Seal of approval: Stroke Unit
The first stroke units were created in Germany in the mid-1990s. There are now more than 280 such special facilities, certified by the German Stroke Foundation. The seal of approval of a stroke unit is only given to stroke departments that meet certain, continuously updated quality criteria. These criteria require, for example, that certain specialists (such as neurologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, etc.) must always be present or available in a stroke unit. A certain number of nurses per bed is also required. The ward must also have a certain number of beds and equipment. Compliance with these quality criteria is intended to ensure that stroke patients receive the best possible care in a stroke unit.
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