Position of stroke patient's head before surgery may improve neurological function

Research Highlights:

• Hospital beds for stroke patients are typically elevated at the head, however, a flat head position before surgical removal of a blood clot in the brain (thrombectomy) may lead to better outcomes.
• Results from a multicenter trial in the U.S. found significant improvements in clinical stability and neurological function for patients with 0-degree head positioning compared to patients with head positioning at a 30-degree angle, suggesting that 0-degree positioning may be an appropriate change to the standard of care for stroke patients before thrombectomy.
• Head positioning is considered a maneuver to maintain blood flow for patients awaiting surgical intervention, not a stroke treatment itself.

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