Stroke

According to the American Heart Association, a patient loses approximately 2 million brain cells per minute when they are having a stroke. It's crucial that those experiencing stroke symptoms seek treatment immediately. Keep the acronym BE FAST in mind when it comes to recognizing and seeking treatment for a potential stroke:

B: Balance- Sudden loss of balance, dizziness or walking differently

E: Eyes- Sudden vision loss, blurry or double vision, or trouble seeing out of one or both eyes

F: Face- Uneven face, drooping or numbness, such as a crooked smile

A: Arm- Sudden arm weakness or numbness, or an arm or leg hanging down and unable to be held up straight

S: Speech- Sudden slurred speech or difficulty speaking and or understanding others

T: Terrible headache AND Time to call 911!

Any one of the BE FAST symptoms above is reason to seek emergency care.

Our emergency care locations are always ready to provide evidence-based stroke treatment. We partner with local emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, so we know when to call a "stroke alert" to prepare for a patient's arrival.

In addition to calling "stroke alerts," our team also responds to these alerts in other areas of our hospital. If a patient elsewhere in our facility is experiencing stroke symptoms, we are able to immediately respond, assess the situation and provide expedited treatment. We have staff members on-site 24/7 who are trained to respond in emergency stroke situations.

We are recognized by DNV-GL as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. This recognition reflects our dedication to offering evidence-based care to our patients.

Our hospital follows a program for stroke care that is designed to promote a full recovery. This includes:

• Advanced imaging and diagnostics, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) and neurointerventional biplane angiography
• Inpatient rehabilitation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
• Telemedicine services available for real-time evaluation by a neurologist
• Emergency care clinicians and support staff with training in acute stroke care
• Neurocritical care-trained neurologists and cerebrovascular neurosurgeons and intensivists
• Nurses and staff trained in neurological care and vascular interventional procedures

We perform the following interventional procedures to treat strokes:

• Brain aneurysm coiling — This procedure is performed to block blood flow to an aneurysm that is at risk for rupturing, which could cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
• Carotid endarterectomy — This procedure removes plaque buildup from inside a carotid artery to restore normal blood flow. It is a preventive procedure for patients who are already experiencing symptoms of reduced blood flow and at risk for an ischemic stroke.
• Cerebral arterial stenting — This procedure is done to widen an artery and place a stent to keep the artery open. This keeps the artery from narrowing due to plaque buildup and helps prevent an ischemic stroke.
• Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) — This is a clot-busting drug that breaks up blood clots causing an ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke treatment

The "standard of care" in treating an ischemic stroke is a medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This drug works quickly to dissolve blood clots and restore proper blood flow to the brain. When a patient with stroke symptoms arrives, we quickly assess to determine if they are able to receive tPA. Not every patient is a candidate for tPA, as it must be administered soon following the onset of stroke symptoms.

If a patient is eligible for tPA, an intravenous (IV) catheter will be placed and treatment will begin within minutes. Every second counts when treating a stroke because brain cells continue to die as the patient goes without treatment. Our time between patient entrance to the emergency room and administration of lifesaving treatment is less than the national average.

Mechanical thrombectomy

If a patient is not able to receive tPA for an ischemic stroke, our specialists offer an alternative treatment option that is available up to 24 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms. This treatment is a neurointerventional procedure called a mechanical thrombectomy.

This image-guided, minimally invasive procedure combines advanced technology, neurological imaging and endovascular techniques to restore blood flow. This is done by using a system of tiny catheters that are specially equipped to remove blood clots.

Once a blood clot is removed, blood begins to flow freely again. This allows the previously blocked portion of the brain to receive the blood supply it needs to survive.