Analysis of the new code stroke protocol in Asturias after one year. Experience at one hospital

Implementation of the stroke code registry in the emergency department of a regional hospital

Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease caused by a decrease or abrupt obstruction of blood flow to the brain. Nerve cells do not receive oxygen and there is a transient or permanent alteration of the function of a certain region of the brain. It causes high morbidity and mortality resulting in disabilities with a large economic cost to society. The Stroke Code was established at the Mollet Hospital in 2015. A protocol, action guideline and registry were created. The Mollet Hospital does not have a specialist unit so people who suffer thrombolysis and / or who require specific care are transferred to the referral centre. This registry is organized in several parts: demographic and clinical data, A-B-C-D assessment, procedures, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Rankin scale, and nursing diagnoses: Impaired verbal communication, Impaired physical mobility, Acute pain, Anxiety and Risk for aspiration. This paper aims to describe the implementation of the Stroke Code registry and the level of completion in the emergency department of the Mollet hospital, revealing care times and transfers to other centres; NIHSS and Ranking scales completion and the activation of nursing diagnoses. An analysis of the Stroke Code registry provides data about healthcare services and detects weak points to improve to establish new action plans, standardise and promote continuity of care and avoid possible errors.