Stroke Center

The Neurovascular Unit (NVU) is a specialized unit for the management of acute strokes. It provides 24/7 emergency care for stroke patients.

This unit is composed of a multidisciplinary medical and paramedical team, trained in the management of strokes: doctors specializing in neurovascular disorders, nurse coordinators, nurses, nurse aides, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists.

The initial management of ischemic strokes begins upon admission to the hospital and aims to reopen the blocked vessel as quickly as possible.

Two main approaches are used to restore cerebral blood flow:

1. Intravenous injection of a clot-dissolving drug (thrombolysis), which must be administered within 4.5 hours of the first signs of a stroke.
2. Endovascular treatment, either alone or in combination with intravenous therapy, is recommended for treating cerebral infarction within 6 hours of stroke symptom onset in patients with proximal occlusion of cerebral arteries. This involves directly searching for the blood clot in the patient's brain.

After passing through the Emergency Department, stroke management takes place in the Neurovascular Unit with several primary goals:

• To monitor and neurologically stabilize the stroke patient
• To prevent early complications following the stroke
• To identify early complications after the stroke
• To determine the cause of the stroke
• To initiate appropriate treatment to prevent further vascular events
• To start the rehabilitation program as soon as possible