Souers Stroke Institute

Regional Leaders in Stroke Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment

When stroke strikes, timely, expert care is critical. SLUCare Physician Group neurologists are cross-trained in a number of neurologic specialties — vascular neurology, neurointervention, neurocritical care and neurorehabilitation — to efficiently and accurately assess stroke patients and deliver the right care when it's needed most. In addition, our specialists provide preventive care and treatment for a variety of other neurological disorders.

Care for patients with acute stroke begins in the emergency room at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, where our staff identifies the best medication, surgical intervention or minimally invasive procedure for a patient's needs. Stroke patients outside the St. Louis area have access to this care team as well, through hospitals in the MidAmerica Stroke Network. Physicians in this network collaborate with our team via technology, sharing images and information to determine the whether the patient can be treated locally or should be transported to a hospital offering more advanced capabilities.

The Right Technology & the Right Team Make All the Difference

During the first critical hours after a stroke, patients may undergo continuous monitoring of the brain, heart and blood movement. SLUCare physicians collect this information using state-of-the-art neuroimaging equipment, such as MRI, MRA, TCD and angiography. A patient's heart is evaluated with tools such as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Our highly trained neurologists, including a neurointensivist (a doctor who treats critical nervous system problems), are available around the clock to develop and implement a treatment program based on an individual patient's needs. Once a patient's condition stabilizes, the stroke team meets daily for further evaluation, while nurse specialists trained in stroke management continue to assist the patient and their loved ones.

After discharge, patients are seen at the Stroke Outpatient Clinic, where the SLUCare stroke team works closely with referring physicians to ensure continued recovery.

Depending on the needs of each patient, physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as vocational and family counseling services, are available.

Other Conditions Treated

In addition to emergency stroke care, our team also also helps patients halt, reverse and recover from a variety of neurovascular disorders, including:

• Aneurysms
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
• Carotid artery disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Head and brain malformations
• Brain hemorrhage
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Brain tumors or spinal tumors
• Vascular malformations

About the Souers Stroke Institute

As part of the Department of Neurology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, the Souers Stroke Institute is on the leading edge of research in neurovascular medicine. This gives patients access to the latest scientific advances in care and establishes our program as one of the world's premier training institutions for vascular neurology and neurointervention.