[Mobile stroke unit for prehospital stroke treatment]

[Mobile Stoke Unit : Changes in the concept of stroke care over time]

BACKGROUND

Stroke continues to be a major cause of death and one of the most frequent reasons for permanent disability and dependence on caregiving at an adult age, whereby ischemic stroke is regarded as a medical condition that can be treated. One of the main reasons why patients with acute stroke are not given causal or evidence-based treatment is the delay in reaching a treatment-specialized team at a suitable clinic. After the dawning of the age of neurothrombectomy, various management concepts have been established to transfer the patient to a center with the appropriate level of treatment as quickly as possible (time is brain).

METHODS

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is an ambulance that contains all the equipment required to clarify the cause of a stroke and thus enables treatment and triage decision-making at the scene of the emergency.

RESULTS

Due to prehospital implementation of the "need-for-speed" notion, the MSU assumes a special role. Present data indicate a benefit with regard to a shortening of time to thrombolysis and an increase in treatment rates within the first (golden) hour. In addition, it is possible to make a diagnosis-based triage decision regarding a hospital with or without an endovascular treatment option.

CONCLUSIONS

The MSU allows swifter treatment and a diagnosis-based triage decision at the scene of the emergency. It is now important to continue evaluating the clinical and socioeconomic benefit of these, at first glance expensive, preclinical tools and also continue analyzing special regional aspects as well as the pros and cons of the concepts. The recently established Prehospital Stroke Treatment Organization (PRESTO) represents a promising approach.