Advanced, Timely Treatment, Crucial for Stroke Patients

When it comes to the treatment of stroke, time is truly of the essence.

By Daniel T. Laurent, Director, Media Relations, WPAHS

For the more than 750,000 Americans who will suffer a stroke this year, the keys to reducing the risk of death or permanent disability are having one’s stroke symptoms recognized and diagnosed rapidly and being admitted to a hospital that is uniquely capable of offering the complete spectrum of advanced stroke therapies around-the-clock.

As one of just a handful of hospitals in the state certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the government’s Joint Commission, Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) is recognized as a leading referral center for stroke care that affords patients access to a comprehensive stroke program and an array of cutting-edge stroke treatments not available at most hospitals.

National research has shown that patients treated at Primary Stroke Centers like AGH receive the most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic care more quickly and with significantly better results than those treated elsewhere.

“When a stroke occurs, time loss is brain loss. There is a very short window of opportunity to successfully treat stroke because the longer blood flow to the brain is interrupted, the higher the risk of brain tissue being irreparably harmed. Much like hospitals that have special certification for trauma care, primary stroke centers provide patients with the best chance of receiving the level of stroke care that may save their life or prevent lifelong disability,” said Ashis Tayal, M.D., a stroke neurologist and director of AGH’s Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Led by a team of physicians who specialize exclusively in the treatment of stroke, AGH has long been at the forefront of stroke research and clinical care.

Interventional neuro-radiologists at the hospital are among the most experienced in the country at using a new FDA-approved specialized catheter, called the Merci Retriever, that removes blood clots from the brain up to eight hours after a stroke has occurred.

AGH physicians have also helped develop intra-arterial t-PA, a delicate procedure in which a catheter is used to deliver blood-thinning medication directly to the site of an occluded artery in the brain to restore blood flow. AGH also will soon open the region’s first dedicated in-patient stroke unit, surrounding admitted stroke patients with not only state-of-the-art technology but also a medical and nursing staff trained specifically in stroke care.

The new stroke unit’s enhanced monitoring capabilities will allow for closer observation of patients, rapid detection of changes in a patient’s neurological condition and improved treatment of medical complications.

Upon a patient’s admission to the unit, measures to prevent potential stroke complications, such as blood clots in the legs and pneumonia will begin immediately, as will physical therapy, including early mobilization and swallowing evaluation.

Numerous studies have shown that early interventions such as these improve patient outcomes, Dr. Tayal said. Dedicated inpatient stroke units are now a Class I recommendation for comprehensive stroke centers established by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

“From a public health perspective, educating people about the symptoms of stroke is pivotal to improving the percentage of those who receive early and effective treatment. It is equally important, however, that people understand the significance of being treated for stroke at a hospital that provides them with the best chance of recovery,” said Dr. Tayal.

The AGH multi-disciplinary stroke team also includes two additional stroke neurologists, David Wright, M.D., and Jon Brillman, M.D., as well as boardcertified specialists in emergency medicine, interventional neuro-radiology, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, vascular surgery, and rehabilitation.

More than 900 patients are admitted to AGH annually for stroke care.

For more information about the AGH Comprehensive Stroke Center, please call 1-877-284-2000 or visit www.aghneurosciences.org.

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