Mobile Stroke Units—the Changing Face of Emergency Medicine Stroke Management

Mobile Stroke Units—the Changing Face of Emergency Medicine Stroke Management:

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To provide a summary of mobile stroke unit (MSU) utilization within Emergency Medicine stroke systems.

Recent Findings

MSUs have been deployed around the world into prehospital stroke systems demonstrating the ability to differentiate stroke subtypes and to initiate thrombolysis in eligible patients with shorter symptom onset to treatment times than conventional systems. MSU technology may enable the administration of other standard interventions or future experimental agents in the hyperacute time window. It is conceivable that MSU technology may be extended to other disease states in resource-limited areas without immediate access to an emergency department.

Summary

MSUs can identify key stroke subtypes and offer promising reductions in treatment times for the time-sensitive condition of acute ischemic stroke. Further research is necessary to guide optimal utilization within stroke systems.