What Is the Minimal Infrastructure That Is Needed to Run a Stroke Unit?
The required infrastructure is strongly correlated to the goal of the institution. For the acute care an emergency room should be available 24 h, as strokes may occur at any time and should be considered as medical emergency. The assessment of patients and close monitoring must be warranted. The following diagnostic tools should be available on site during 24 h: cranial computer-tomography (CCT) scan facility, a neurosonology examination, routine laboratory tests, cerebral angiography and an intensive care unit. Emergency CCT diagnosis is mandatory to exclude intracerebral hemorrhage, especially before thrombolytic treatment. Neurosonology examinations are needed to check for large artery disease, particularly when embolism from large arteries is suspected. Laboratory facilities are required to detect electrolyte, hematologic, and metabolic disturbances in the acute stage. The possibility to transfer a patient to an intensive care ward is important to avoid early systemic complications
