Abstract
Neurologic outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke depend on the preservation of the penumbra and the amount of tissue that is permanently injured due to the disruption of blood flow. Because of the critical management that stroke care entails, patients are managed in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting where continuous and neurological monitoring is possible. A critical component is the regulation of cerebral blood flow following a stroke through continuous and strict management of the patient’s blood pressure (BP). The purpose of this quality improvement project is to improve patient outcomes through structured blood pressure vigilance in the intensive care unit using a standardized checklist to improve monitoring and communication among the healthcare team