As a Primary Stroke Center, The University of Kansas Hospital provides effective, high quality care to meet the specialized needs of stroke patients. Our multidisciplinary approach emphasizes collaboration among physicians, neuroscience clinicians and researchers. Together, we make exceptional efforts to help each patient recover and achieve long-term success following a stroke.
Our neurologists and specialty trained neuroscience nurses have expertise in:
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Research
Acute stroke response team
Stroke is a medical emergency requiring treatment as close to the time of onset as possible.
Our Acute Stroke Response Team responds to a stroke patient's bedside within three to five minutes. This includes hospital patients and patients who arrive at our Emergency Department.
Neurology staff members on our Acute Stroke Response Team include:
- Neuroscience ICU nurse
- Resident
- Staff physician
Team members evaluate the patient and decide a course of treatment. Any hospital staff member can activate our Acute Stroke Response Team.
Evaluation and treatment
Before treating for stroke, physicians conduct tests to make an accurate diagnosis of the patient's condition, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Our multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists provide the most advanced treatments for stroke, including:
- Aneurysm clipping, which uses a metal clip to stop blood flow from a ruptured aneurysm
- Aneurysm coiling, a procedure that coils a wire into an unruptured aneurysm to prevent stroke
- Intravenous tPA or intra-arterial tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) to break up clots that cause ischemic strokes
- MERCI (Mechanical Embolus Removal for Cerebral Ischemia) retriever, which is threaded through a catheter to remove a clot
Post-stroke evaluation
Learning the cause of a patient's stroke can help prevent another stroke. Evaluation procedures include:
Specialized stroke treatment
As an academic medical center, we provide advanced care for stroke patients that may not be available elsewhere, including:
- A dedicated neuroscience intensive care facility; one of few in Greater Kansas City
- A state-of-the-art stroke telemetry unit to monitor a patient's heart rhythm. Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke and requires treatment to prevent recurrent stroke.
- A dedicated neurology medical/surgical facility
- An inpatient stroke rehabilitation facility accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Our neuroscience nurses receive specialized training in stroke care and education.
Learn about opportunities to participate in clinical studies. These studies help us develop new medications and procedures that may make a difference in your care and that of others.