The importance of stroke units.

Karl Meisel, MD, and Brian Silver, MD  stroke unIts ImProve PAtIent outcomes Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Over the past two decades advances in the acute treatment of stroke using thrombolytics has improved patient outcomes. Progress has also occurred in secondary stroke prevention including additional antiplatelet agents, improved blood pressure control, statin use, better treatment of atrial fibrillation, and management of carotid stenosis. A recent study found that nearly two-thirds of Medicare patients who had a stroke died or were rehospitalized within one year. Stroke units have been adopted by many centers for the treatment of acute stroke. This review will examine the science behind the stroke unit and its organization.