Stroke is the first cause of death in Portugal. In 1999 more than 70,000 patients with a stroke were admitted to public hospitals, with total hospitalisation costs of EUR 188 million. Stroke patients are traditionally treated in the departments of medicine and/or neurology. In 2001 the Department of Health approved a rapid transport system of acute stroke victims to the stroke units as well as ‘Stroke Unit Guidelines’. The aim of these guidelines is to define norms facilitating the launch of stroke units in all Portuguese hospitals admitting more than 300 stroke patients a year. By July 2002, five stroke units were already operating.

Keywords:
Portugal, Stroke units, Acute stroke, Emergency system
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© 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
2003
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