Brit J Hosp Med
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Stroke is the UK's leading cause of disability. Stroke rehabilitation can maximise recovery and improve quality of life. This article discusses some post-stroke impairments, including hemiplegia, dysphagia, communication impairments and neglect, and how rehabilitation can address these. Developing techniques of adaptation or compensation is vital, since the extent of stroke recovery is dependent on successful neuroplasticity, with healthy neurons adapting to compensate for damaged ones.
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Thrombolysis can be used to break down a pulmonary embolism more rapidly than standard anticoagulation. Its use has been confined to patients with massive pulmonary embolism and haemodynamic collapse, with disagreement over its role in submassive pulmonary embolism because of the risk of catastrophic bleeding.