E v i d e n c e - b a s e d s t ro k e u n i t c a re
Stroke units have been proven to improve
m o r b i d i t y a n d m o r t a l i t y c o m p a r e d t o
e i t h e r g e n e r a l m e d i c a l w a r d c a r e o r
m o b i l e s t r o k e t e a m c a r e i n g e n e r a l
wa rd s .
2 9 , 3 0
S t ro ke u n i t s h ave b e e n s h ow n
to re d u c e m o r t a l i t y by t h e p reve n t i o n o f
c o m p l i c a t i o n s s u c h a s a s p i r a t i o n p n e u -m o n i a a n d d e e p v e i n t h r o m b o s i s .
3 0
A
r e c e n t s t u d y b a s e d o n t h e S S N A P
national audit data has identified key fac-to r s th a t h ave a n i mp a c t o n m o r t a l i t y o n
s t ro ke u n i t s :
• rev i ew by a c o n s u l t a n t i n l e s s th a n 2 4
h o u r s
• a d e qu a te n u t r i t i o n a n d hy d r a t i o n
• s wa l l ow s c re e n i n g to d e te c t i m p a i re d
s wa l l ow i n g
• e a r ly a n t i p l a te l e t t re a t m e n t .