title: Stroke unit--where all stroke patients should be treated.
abstract: Acute stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and as the most important cause of morbidity and long-term disability imposes an enormous economic burden. Stroke units (SU) are an effective option to fight stroke. According to the European Stroke Organization, SU should provide coordinated multidisciplinary care provided by medical personnel specialized in stroke care. Helsingborg declaration from 1995 urged for organized management of acute stroke in order to reduce mortality below 20% (SU for all stroke patients) and to achieve independency in more than 70% of 3-month stroke survivors. At the beginning of 2001, the first Croatian SU was established at Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital in Zagreb as a hospital ward with dedicated multidisciplinary stroke team consisting of neurologists specialized in the management of cerebrovascular disease, trained nurses and rehabilitation personnel, together with other professionals to enable treatment of stroke patients according to current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Neurology, Reference Center for Neurovascular Disorders, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republic of Croatia, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. tomislav.breitenfeld@zg.t-com.hr
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breitenfeld
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vargek-Solter
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Supanc
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roje-Bedeković
authors.forename: Vida
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Demarin
mesh_terms: D006757:Hospital Units; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*