The first Advanced Care Unit (ACU) for Vascular Strokes (AEE) in the NHS that received Certification from the European Stroke Unit Organization (European Stroke Unit Organization), operates in the 2nd Neurological Clinic of the EKPA, at the “Attikon” hospital.

It started its operation in December 2023, it has a capacity of 6 beds and its occupancy reaches 99.3%.

It took 6 months to complete the certification process, which shows the high level of health services it offers to patients with Vascular Stroke (AAE).

In its first year of operation, 387 patients with stroke have been treated, of which approximately 70 were under 50 years of age. The complication rates recorded are very low, just 6%. Over 70% of patients were discharged from the Unit in excellent functional status with no residual disability. The average length of hospitalization is five days.

Patients with a more serious neurological picture were transferred after their stabilization to Special Rehabilitation Centers. Patients who required special surgery were quickly referred to the respective specialties.

George Tsivgoulis, professor of Neurology, EKPA, and director of the 2nd Neurological Clinic, EKPA in “Attikon”, expresses his satisfaction with the European certification, speaking to APE-MPE.

He explains that this specific certification comes from the European Stroke Organization, after a relevant examination of the file by a special international group of experts (ESO Stroke Unit Certification Committee) and shows the high quality of the health services offered at “Attikon” with the medical contribution of EKPA .

“It is an international certification that took 6 months to complete the process. A detailed examination of the submission file is being carried out regarding the treatment protocols, the staffing of the medical and nursing staff, the physiotherapists, the occupational therapists, i.e. all the staff of the AEE Advanced Care Unit”.

The credit goes to Mr. Tsivgoulis belong to the entire “Attikon” hospital, because it is very important to have interdisciplinary treatment of strokes and the cooperation of all the specialties involved (cardiologists, neurosurgeons, pathologists, radiologists, interventional radiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, general surgeons) works flawlessly.

The 2nd University Neurology Clinic of EKPA has received awards since 2018, since the quality control process of the provision of health services was established.

“MAF is the crown jewel of stroke therapy and we are extremely pleased with this certification,” says the professor.

It emphasizes the important contribution of the nursing service regarding the staffing, because it needs a certain number of nurses per patient, the hospital administrator and the administrator of the B Ministry of Health, as well as the political leadership of the Ministry of Health for support and cooperation.

The certification has a duration of 5 years and this reflects the continuous support that the Unit receives from the Ministry of Health, both in terms of the staffing of medical staff, where NSS curators specializing in AEEs have joined its staff, as well as the possibility her participation in large international clinical studies concerning modern therapeutic services for stroke patients.

“Right now we are at the center of innovation and can offer our patients the most up-to-date stroke treatment,” emphasizes Mr. Tsivgoulis.

He intensified the effort to develop Stroke Units from 2019, as the head of the working groups for strokes and stroke units, reperfusion treatments (thrombolysis and thromboectomy) and for secondary prevention, of the Ministry of Health.

The importance of early treatment

According to the professor, the incidence of strokes has been increasing exponentially in recent years, due to the aging of the population. The World Stroke Organization and the WHO report that one in six people will suffer a stroke at some point in their lives.

What should citizens know? At the first symptoms of a stroke seek medical help quickly.

“The main thing is that there are patients who delay going to the hospital. They had symptoms of a stroke and came to the hospital on the 2nd and 3rd day,” says Mr. Tsivgoulis. “If these innovative treatments – like those applied in the Atticon Unit – are to be done, patients must come to the hospital quickly. “Symptoms of a stroke are equivalent to a quick trip to the hospital,” he says.

Development of AEE Units in Hospitals

The next step is the development of corresponding Units for AEE in NHS hospitals, notes the professor. “Already, steps have been taken and should be further supported. And of course, the more certified Units we have from European agencies, the better for our country”, he emphasizes.

He adds that in recent years there has been a “surge” of interest in stroke, which has become a priority of the Ministry of Health.

Indicatively, it states that the centers that perform thrombolysis have increased significantly and from 14 in 2013, there have been 43 clinics, mostly neurological and some pathological, that perform thrombolysis throughout the territory.

Out of 19 units for AEE that are planned to be created, today they are in full operation in “Attikon” and Papageorgiou and some others such as those in “Aigineteio”, “Georgios Gennimatas” and “Red Cross” hospitals are in their final phase of operation.

“It is very important to continue this effort and to support the staffing of the Units, especially with nursing staff, because this was the main problem that we did not have enough Units.”

If all the Units are operational approximately 1500 citizens who would have severe disability after stroke will be functional.

He explains that the creation of more such Units and the full operation of the National Network of Advanced Care Units for AKI will contribute significantly to reducing the deaths and disability of patients with AKI in our country.

Mr. Tsivgoulis concludes that a lot has been done in the field of strokes, but efforts continue to do more.

The scientific community is ready, there are excellent scientists in Greece who can coordinate and operate these Units, he concludes.