Cochrane Stroke Group Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh,Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. Telephone: +44 (0)131 537 2273; Fax: +44 (0)131 537 3586; Email: csrg@skull.dcn.ed.ac.uk

The Scope and Aims of the Cochrane Stroke Group

The Cochrane Stroke Group seeks to identify and review all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) of interventions in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, and the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients, including subarachnoid haemorrhage. Primary prevention trials are restricted to those in which stroke is the major outcome of interest, eg carotid surgery for asymptomatic stenosis. The primary prevention of generalised vascular disease is beyond the scope of the Cochrane Stroke Group, as is the primary prevention of stroke in patients with cardiac disease, eg stroke following myocardial infarction/cardiac surgery.

Our aims and responsibilities are: To produce high quality Cochrane reviews for publication in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, available on The Cochrane Library   To ensure that reviews published in The Cochrane Library are updated as new evidence becomes available   To establish and maintain a truly comprehensive Specialised Register of Stroke Trials containing published, unpublished, ongoing and planned trials of interventions in the prevention of stroke, and the acute treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients   To carry out searches for all relevant published and unpublished trials using various overlapping search strategies