Post-emergency department management of stroke.
All stroke patients ideally should be admitted to a stroke unit in which personnel are familiar with strategies for taking care of stroke patients. Prevention of worsening cerebral ischemia by appropriate blood pressure and serum glucose management, fever control, and supplemental oxygen for hypoxemic patients is recommended. Recognition of common complications, such as aspiration pneumonia and deep venous thrombosis, highlights the need for swallowing evaluation and the use of pneumatic compression devices or subcutaneous heparin. Patients should be monitored closely for deterioration in their neurologic status and should have complications appropriately addressed. After evaluation of stroke etiology, appropriate secondary stroke prophylaxis should be selected and initiated before hospital discharge.
Brown
Devin L
DL
Department of Neurology, Box 800394, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. dlb7b@virginia.edu
Haley
E Clarke
EC
D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*