Emergency Stroke Treatment

Patients with symptoms of a stroke need to call 911 as quickly as possible. Getting treatment right away can prevent life-threatening complications and more widespread brain damage - meaning your chance for survival is much higher and your risk of being disabled is much lower.

If emergency treatment is received within the first three to eight hours after symptoms begin, some people with strokes caused by a blood clot may be able to receive medication to dissolve the clot, helping increase the chance of full recovery. The earlier a patient seeks help, the more likely it is that they will recover.

Our stroke treatment include:

Intra-Arterial Thrombolytic Administration

Intra-arterial thrombolytic administration is a new technique for those with acute damage from blood clots as a result of an ischemic stroke. This treatment inserts a tiny catheter through a tiny incision in the groin, threading it into the brain to the site of the clot, where clot-dissolving drugs such as tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) are delivered. If done within three hours after a stroke, this procedure has a high success rate, with 40 percent of stroke patients having little or no disability after treatment.

Treatments to control or reduce brain swelling

Special types of intravenous (IV) fluids are often used to help reduce or control brain swelling, especially after a hemorrhagic stroke (a stroke caused by bleeding into the brain).

Neuroprotective agents

Neuroprotective agents are medications to help protect the brain from ischemia (lack of oxygen). These agents are being studied in national clinical trials and are available at the Forsyth Stroke & Neurosciences Institute.

Craniotomy

A craniotomy is a type of surgery for critically ill stroke patients. It is performed in the brain to remove blood clots and treat brain swelling related to strokes.