Health News
"Ethically, we can't deny patients a treatment when we have such strong evidence it's better for them," Lopes said. Now thrombectomy is a standard treatment for severe strokes at Rush and some other locations. The study is published in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health News
Study shows that removing a clot that causes a stroke leaves victims with higher functional independence
In Kentucky, strokes cause about 5 percent of deaths, and the state had the 11th highest stroke mortality rate in 2009, according to data from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Fewer than 40 percent of severe stroke victims regain functional independence if they get only the standard drug intervention, but a study has found that also removing the clot both helps restore blood flow to the brain and can lead to more favorable long term outcomes.
"The outcomes are the difference between patients being able to care for themselves after stroke and being dependent," said Demetrius Lopes, surgical director of the comprehensive stroke center at Rush University Medical Center.
The traditional treatment for ischemic stroke?a stroke that involves clots in vessels bringing blood to the brain?is intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a medication to dissolve the clot. However, doctors can also perform thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the clot that is allowed only in clinical trials.
In the study, patients with severe ischemic strokes were split into two groups. One group received only tPA, while the other group received tPA as well as thrombectomy. After 90 days, those who received both treatments had less disability and had a functional independence rate of 60 percent, compared to 35.5 percent of those who received only tPA. Also, patients who received thrombectomy had better blood flow rates in the brain.
"Ethically, we can't deny patients a treatment when we have such strong evidence it's better for them," Lopes said. Now thrombectomy is a standard treatment for severe strokes at Rush and some other locations. The study is published in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
- Most Women Are Unaware Of Female-specific Stroke Symptoms And Risks, According To A National Survey By Ohio State
Most women are unaware of the symptoms and risks of stroke for females, according to a national survey by the Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. The survey found that just 11 percent of the 1,000 respondents knew that pregnancy, lupus,...
- If You've Had A Stroke, Learning How Take Your Pulse And Recognize An Irregular Heart Beat Could Prevent Second Stroke
Regularly monitoring your pulse after a stroke is a simple and effective first step in detecting an irregular heartbeat, which is a major cause of having a second stroke, according to research recently published online in Neurology, the medical journal...
- Accreditation Commission Designates Uk As One Of 63 Comprehensive Stroke Centers
The Joint Commission for accredting health-care organizations, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have designated UK HealthCare a Comprehensive Stroke Center. The university's medical center joins 63 other institutions...
- Study: Stroke Victims Getting Younger And, Yes, Risk Factors Include Obesity, Diabetes And High Cholesterol
A study conducted on first-ever stroke patients in the Greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky area may have some devastating repercussions for the nation. The results of the University of Cincinnati research, published this week in the online issue...
- Northwest Hospital Receives Award For Stroke Treatment Program
When you or a loved on is being admitted for a stroke, it's important to know that your health care team has the latest skills and knowledge. That's why we're proud that Sinai and Northwest hospitals are designated as Maryland Stroke Centers....