[Monitoring in acute cerebral infarction].
BACKGROUND
Cerebral ischaemia is potentially reversible during the first few hours. Monitoring of physiological variables such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rhythm, oxygen saturation and cerebral blood flow may be important for efficient treatment and reduction of the infarct volume.


METHODS
This article is based on a review of relevant articles in international journals over the last 15 years on the pathophysiology of acute ischaemic stroke and treatment in intensive stroke units compared with conventional stroke units.


CONCLUSIONS
Two pilot studies indicate that continuous monitoring in intensive stroke units improves outcome compared with conventional stroke units. Future studies must draw the balance between continuous monitoring and mobilization in the early phase of ischaemic stroke.
Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Universitetssjukehus, 5021 Bergen. halvor.naess@haukeland.no
Halvor
H
Naess
Ulrike
U
Waje-Andreassen
Lars
L
Thomassen
D000208:Acute Disease; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy