Although recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of stroke are available, the aim of this study was to identify indicators of quality and risk management for acute ischemic stroke hospital patients. We conducted a descriptive study of stroke patients who were diagnosed less than 12 hours before admission to the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital's neurology and stroke unit. Data were collected using a literature review and from existing recommendation. During the study period (August 2003 through April 2005) 310 eligible patients were identified. In 87.5% of the cases, patients suffered from a cerebral infarction and in 10.3% from an intracranial haemorrhage. The initial deficit was mild to severe. The average time between the first symptoms and admission in the stroke unit was 212 +/- 130 minutes. Forty percent of patients who underwent a thrombolysis did so within the first 3 hours. The average length of stay in the stroke unit was 17.5 days. Thirty-one percent of the patients were discharged to go home, 47% to a rehabilitation unit and 8% died. Ten indicators of quality and risk management are proposed, taking in account the events before admission, hospital care, side effects, duration of stay, discharge location and the handicap.