supportive care
Last reviewed 01/2018
Supportive care is required for all patients, this consists of:
- support for the patient and family:
- explanation of the diagnosis and the treatment plan
- medical support:
- the airway may need protection:
- in a comatose patient a Guedel airway may be needed
- the safety of the swallow should be assessed
- if the swallow is defective the patient should take nothing orally and be hydrated intrvenously
- it is rare to ventilate a stroke patient
- blood pressure regulation:
- post-stroke hypertension is common and may last several days
- aggressive hypotensive therapy may be harmful
- typically only diastolic pressures above 130 mmHg should be treated
- nutrition