New technology making stroke treatment more effective

Posted: Published on July 19th, 2014

This post was added by Dr Simmons

When a person is having a stroke, every second counts and can make the difference between permanent damage and a full recovery.

Watch the report

New technology in use at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston proved that in February when Ralph Campbell, a retired police officer who lives in Weymouth, was rushed to the hospital's Stroke Center.

"It was very, very cold. I'd been working outside a couple of hours. I couldn't get my thumb -- it just didn't want to -- it seemed like it was frozen and didn't want to thaw out," said Campbell.

Within minutes Campbell's face and left side of his body were paralyzed. Campbell said he realized it was a stroke when he saw the look on the face of his fianc, Nancy Daignault.

"I could see his face, so I knew," said Daignault. "I was afraid to say to 911 that he was having a stroke because I didn't know if he could hear it."

Campbell was rushed to South Shore Hospital and then transferred to Brigham and Women's, where he was examined by Dr. Ali Aziz-Sultan, chief of the hospital's cerebrovascular and endovascular divisions. A scan of Campbell's brain showed a blood clot was blocking some of the vessels.

"That clot that had lodged in his brain was killing the right side of his brain," said Aziz-Sultan. "The more time that goes by, the more brain cells die."

Doctors said quick action needs to be taken following a stroke. Typically there is a three-hour window for the most effective treatment.

For Campbell, doctors opted for a suction catheter procedure. A small catheter was inserted into Campbell's groin and moved up through his vessels and into his brain, where suction was used to remove the clot.

Link:
New technology making stroke treatment more effective

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