[Stroke unit: requirements for diagnostic imaging and interventions]

Abstract

Stroke Units are specialised centers of expertise with the aim to optimize acute therapy of stroke. More specifically, the aims are (a) to reduce the area of brain infarction, (b) to prevent or appropriately react to complications, (c) to ensure an optimal strategy of secondary stroke prevention after having clarified etiopathogenesis, and (d) to establish a basis for subsequent rehabilitation. Stroke Units should collaborate for the evaluation and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic means. Patients' medical history, their clinical presentation and brain imaging create the basis for therapeutical decisions. The value of interventional therapy is presently evaluated for acute stroke therapy (e.g. intra-arterial thrombolysis) and secondary stroke prevention (Stent-protected angioplasty of carotid stenosis).