Approximately 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year. For many patients, a stroke-causing blood clot can be treated with clot-busting medication called tPA. However, for strokes caused by a large blood clot, an advanced interventional procedure is required.
In October 2018, Lancaster General Hospital became the first and only hospital in Lancaster County to provide mechanical thrombectomy, an advanced stroke treatment that involves physically removing large blood clots from the brain. Until recently, stroke patients needing this advanced treatment needed to be transported to a hospital out of Lancaster County to receive treatment.
“Strokes caused by a large blood clot are especially dangerous, as they have the greatest chance for resulting in long-term disability or death. The phrase ‘Time is brain’ is essential knowledge. Large blood clots resulting in stroke lead to the loss
of 1.9 million neurons and 14 billion connections (the equivalent of seven miles of connections) every minute,” said Ram Chavali, MD, medical director, Endovascular Stroke Intervention. “In addition to our specialist-driven neurointensive care unit, offering this advanced procedure at LGH means high-risk stroke patients have access to timely, higher-quality care right here in Lancaster.”
Mechanical thrombectomy is a stroke procedure in which a large blood clot is physically removed with a wire-net device, called a stentriever. Through an artery, usually in the upper leg or groin, a series of small catheters are threaded through the body, and ultimately directed to the blood clot in the brain. Then the stentriever is inserted to remove the clot blockage, restoring blood flow.
“Removing a clot from the brain right away provides the best chance for a complete recovery,” said Murray Flaster, MD, medical director, Stroke Program. “Our goal is to continue to reduce the amount of time it takes to treat patients close to their medical home.”
For more information on stroke risk factors, prevention and how to spot a stroke FAST, visit LGHealth.org/Stroke.