JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Mobile stroke units: taking stroke care to the patient.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Since the development of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), functional outcome has improved when treatment occurs within 4.5 h of stroke onset and treatment benefits are greater with earlier treatment. Endovascular revascularization also is better the sooner it is delivered.

RECENT FINDINGS: The Get with the Guidelines Stroke registry found that less than one-third of treatment-eligible AIS patients receive intravenous tPA within 60 min of hospital arrival. Initiatives have tried to improve public education and awareness of stroke symptoms to decrease time to presentation. The mobile stroke unit (MSU) facilitates earlier computed tomography scans, delivery of tPA, proper triage and on-scene goal-directed care. MSUs reduce time from stroke alarm to treatment by 25-40 min and increase the rate of intravenous tPA use without an increase in hemorrhage risk. In addition, three-month favorable outcome is increased.

SUMMARY: MSUs likely will evolve further and be used for other acute neurologic disorders, help triage patients for endovascular therapy, and be incorporated into systems of care in remote areas. Further studies are awaited to fully understand the overall medical and health-economic benefit of MSUs.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app