From stroke unit care to stroke care unit

In some stroke units continuous monitoring of blood pressure, electrocardiogram, body temperature, and oxygen saturation has become an integral part of the management of acute stroke. In addition, regular measurements of blood glucose are performed. Stroke units equipped with such monitoring facilities should be named 'stroke care units' by analogy with coronary care units. The goal of a stroke care unit is early detection and rapid correction of extracranial factors which may aggravate cerebral damage in ischemic brain, including hypoxia, hyperglycemia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, and elevated body temperature.