The interdisciplinary treatment of stroke patients has been a clinical and scientific focus at Heidelberg University Hospital for several decades. As early as the late 1990s, when systemic thrombolytic therapy (IVT) was introduced into the routine care of acute stroke patients, a network - still informal at the time - was formed with numerous hospitals in the surrounding area that transferred patients to Heidelberg for this therapy. When the great effectiveness of endovascular stroke therapy (EST) was proven in 2016, it was necessary to formalise and structure these networks, which was supported by the improved technical possibilities of telemedical cooperation.

The local core of the Neurovascular Centre consists of

• The Neurological Clinic with
• Neurology Department (CA Prof. Dr Wick) with the Vascular Neurology Section(Prof. Dr Ringleb) with a 16-bed stroke unit as well as 4 additional neurological intermediate beds and an independent intensive care unit, and
• Neuroradiology Department (CA Prof. Dr Bendszus) with the Interventional Neuroradiology Section(Prof. Dr Möhlenbruch) and two angiography units, a CT and 3 MRIs for routine clinical care
• the Department of Neurosurgery (CA Prof Dr Krieg) with its own intensive care unit
• the Clinic for Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery (CA Prof. Dr Böckler)
• the Clinic for Cardiology (CA Prof. Dr Frey) with a Chest Pain Unit (CPU), intensive care units and several cardiac catheterisation facilities.

The expertise of other departments such as rheumatology, coagulation outpatient clinic, ophthalmology, radiotherapy, human genetics, geriatrics and neuropathology is called in as required.

The annual quality report for the year 2024 can be found here.