The Stroke Unit of 1st Neurological Department was founded in 2010 to support patients with vascular disorders. Physically located in Ward A, the Unit comprises 6 specially equipped beds and a multidisciplinary stroke team which includes stroke neurologists, internist, cardiologist, stroke nurses, radiology personnel, physiotherapists and social workers.
Patients with a stroke or a suspected stroke have a careful clinical assessment, based on an organized protocol and on international current guidelines and if they are eligible for I.V thrombolysis will be treated with this approved treatment within the 4.5 hour of symptoms onset. If patients are ineligible for i.v thrombolysis or they have an Hemorrhagic stroke, the Stroke Unit can support their acute symptoms and signs with close monitoring of vital signs (breathing rhythm, blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, oxygen saturation) and early treatment of potential complications.
During stroke patients’ hospitalization, the Stroke team provides an extensive diagnostic work up to identify, treat and prevent the underlying cause of the vascular disease.
A common cause is atherosclerotic vascular disease . Vascular imaging is a reliable method of detecting atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases as a cause of stroke. In our Unit, Extracranial-Transcranial ultrasound (cervical triplex -transcranial doppler / duplex) allows the study of the extracranial- intracranial vascular network and its possible stenoses, as well as the evaluation of collateral circulation in the case of severe stenosis or occlusion of the extracranial brain arteries.
Heart disease is another cause of stroke. Functional tests with the transcranial ultrasound can detect PFO (right-left shunt) as a possible cause of cardiombolic stroke (by injection of agitated saline-bubble test), as well as embolic signals (with continuous doppler recording), helping each patient’s management. Finally, transcranial ultrasound evaluates midline shift in extended brain tissue damage at patient’s bedside.
The physiotherapy team of our Unit facilitates the early mobilization of stroke patients while the hospital's social service ensures that the patient is further rehabilitated in appropriate off-site structures.
After discharge, patients have the option of follow-up in our outpatient Stroke Clinic.
Main Personnel
Sophia Vassilopoulou, Assistant Professor of Neurology, head of Stroke Unit
Argiro Tountopoulou, Neurologist, head of Cerebrovascular Ultrasound Lab