היחידה לטיפול בשבץ מוחי The Stroke Unit

The Stroke Unit at the Barzilai Medical Center

            The burden of stroke is a considerable in terms of mortality, morbidity, long term disability and utilization of health resources. Stroke patients pose considerable impact on the family and society. More than 600 acute stroke victims are admitted to the Barzilai Medical Center each year.

Today, the standard of care for acute stroke includes immediate administration of thrombolytic agents and various endo-vascular interventions in the appropriate patients. A multidisciplinary team approach is necessary to manage the acute phase of stroke, rehabilitation and secondary prevention. The "door to needle or cath lab" time for acute myocardial infarction must be adapted for acute stroke. Acute stroke has become an emergency.

            The urgency in treating stroke requires a specialized team, the stroke team, and smooth and well organized collaboration between all the disciplines involved in the acute management of stroke (EMS, emergency physicians, neurologists, radiologists, etc) and continuous observation in a well equipped stroke unit. Various studies consistently showed a 14-24% reduction in mortality, severe disability and long term stay in nursing homes among stroke patients treated in stroke units in contrast to patients treated in non-specialized departments. Health authorities and stroke experts around the world recommend the establishment of stroke units in all the hospitals which care for acute stroke patients.

We, in the department of Neurology at the Barzilai Medical Center, have already assigned one of our neurologists to be the stroke specialist responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients with thrombolytics according to written protocols. The stroke specialist is called for every stroke patient who might benefit of thrombolysis 24 hours a day, on a voluntary basis. Since we lack a stroke unit, stroke patients treated with thrombolytics are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 24 hours and then transferred to the Neurology department. The results of thrombolytic therapy in our patients are very impressing and reassuring.

There is a growing need for a specialized and well equipped stroke unit and trained staff within the department of Neurology. Such unit may treat 3-4 patients at a time. This unit may serve also as the basis for training of stroke teams, education and research in the field of stroke.

            We cannot rely on the limited hospital resources to establish the stroke unit. We are already 10 years behind the modern world. It is time to act and raise funds for the stroke unit.

Donations will be greatly appreciated.

For further information please contact Mrs. Lea Maloul, Spokesman and Public Relationship

By phone : 972-8-6745766              OR

By E-mail: [email protected]