Don Sims

Stroke Medicine

120,000 stroke in the UK 1.2 million living with the after effects of

stroke 3rd leading cause of death Huge burdens on carers both financially

and emotionally

Stroke Medicine

Subspecialty in its own right Stroke consultants come from a parent

specialty and train for 1 extra yearGeriatric MedicineNeurologyAcute MedicinePharmacologyCardiology

Stroke Medicine

Geriatric Medicine skill set needed for most patients

Needs based rather than age based25 year old with a significant stroke needs

many of the same skills brought to bear as a 85 year old

Holistic attitude to patientsEven though this is a single organ illness –

most of the patients aren’t

Stroke Medicine Stroke medicine has moved on more in

the last 10 years than many other specialty areas

Thrombolysis has made a huge difference to a proportion of patients

Newer treatments constantly being developed

Research is currently looking at interventions from neuroprotective agents to stem cell injections

Thrombectomy

Clot retrieval

Pre clot retrieval Post clot retrieval

Stroke Medicine

Specialty which is constantly changing Needs involvement across the whole

patient pathwayVery sick acutely ill patient in the EDMedically complicated sick frail adults on the

wardRehabilitating patients trying to maximise

their functional status

Stroke Medicine

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease” Voltaire

However occasionally it feels like it was actually you….