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Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine

Overview

Physicians who wish to receive education and training at our Division are invited to click here.


Staff physicians of the Division of Cerebrovascular Medicine and Neurology
(photo taken November 7, 2019).

An Outline of the Division of Cerebrovascular Medicine

Strokes or cerebrovascular accidents occur more frequently in Japan than many other countries. Strokes are the third leading cause of death, accounting for the fourth largest share of the total national health care expenditures and the greatest proportion of elderly health care costs in Japan. The number of patients developing a stroke will continue to increase as the baby boomer generation reaches the age at which stroke risk is increased. Strokes are a major challenge for the ageing population.

The majority of patients who have a stroke require specialized medical treatment. Strokes have long been considered incurable. Our Division started in 1977 as one of the few units dedicated to stroke treatment and care in Japan at that time. In 1978, the Stroke Care Unit (SCU) was established to provide intensive critical care for stroke patients. As a leading facility in Japan, our Division contributed to establishing a variety of acute-phase treatments including intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) infusion and diagnostic imaging techniques such as cerebrovascular ultrasonography. With the nationwide spread of intravenous tPA therapy and SCUs, stroke was gradually recognized as a curable disease. We are proud to be a hub acute care hospital in the Kansai region, a key stroke center in Japan, and a frontrunner in national and international stroke medical communities. "Beat stroke"is our motto.

Diagnosis, treatment, and management of stroke require interdisciplinary efforts involving cardiovascular medicine, neurology, and emergency medicine. Our Division has implemented and advanced multidisciplinary internal medical treatment for stroke patients.

Many talented junior physicians are attracted to our Division. They are eager to learn and spread our practice to different parts of Japan. The Division consists of two groups: Cerebrovascular Medicine (Brain Medicine A) and Neurology (Brain Medicine B). Both groups are dedicated to stroke diagnosis, treatment, research, and education. Both groups provide the latest medical services.

Our SCU provides 24-hour services throughout the year (Figure 1). The SCU is closely allied with the Division of Neurosurgery. Patients will be referred to neurosurgeons for surgical interventions, if necessary. Moreover, our SCU promotes partnerships and cooperation with health care providers in the community. After the acute stroke phase, patients will be transferred or referred to a facility in their residential area for rehabilitation.

Figure 1. Changes in the number of patients admitted to the SCU and in-hospital mortality over time
Figure 1. Changes in the number of patients admitted to the SCU and in-hospital mortality over time

Greetings From the Hospital's Vice President: A workplace full of "V"and "W"

Deputy Director Kazunori ToyodaThank you for visiting our Division's web site. A hallmark of this division is the spirit of independence and generosity. More than 40 years have passed since the inception of this division, and its history can be divided into three stages. During its early days, first-generation staff members devoted themselves to saving people from stroke and demonstrated their worth and credentials. Second-generation staff members made clinical and research contributions step by step to help overcome gaps in access to new stroke drugs and other treatment modalities. Building on the efforts of our forerunners, we have reached a stage to make new scientific ideas and findings and disseminate them to the world. We are determined to move forward to achieve our mission.
Let me quote the two favorite words of Nobel Laureate Dr. Shinya Yamanaka (by the way, he is my super hero with whom I share the same birth place [Osaka] and the same birth year [1962]). He often mentions "V"for vision and "W"for work. The Division's vision is to improve the quality of stroke care on a national level. Every member is a hard worker. Everyone is having fun during W time because our great V is in sight. If you are not sure what I mean, please come and visit us, just for one day. You are always welcome.

January 2018, Kazunori Toyoda

Accreditation

The Division of Cerebrovascular Medicine and Neurology is accredited as a teaching facility by the following academic organizations:

  • Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
  • Japan Stroke Society
  • Japanese Society of Neurology
  • Japan Society for Dementia Research

last updated : 2024/10/04

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