More about strokes

Posted on 23 August 2012

Dr Mark Abelson, a cardiologist at Mediclinic Vergelegen’s Heart Unit, is highly skilled in cardiac catheterisation in the coronary, carotid and stroke fields.

My sister has suffered a stroke. Does this mean she could face paralysis and speech impediments?
No, not necessarily. While strokes could once have meant a lifetime of disability, today it’s possible for a patient to continue a normal life after a stroke, if it’s caught in time, thanks to a groundbreaking procedure known as mechanical embolectomy. It involves using an ingenious little spring-like tool to clear the clot responsible for the stroke within eight hours of the onset of stroke symptoms.

What actually happens during a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood clot or ruptured artery or vessel stops the flow of blood to an area of the brain. Without the flow of oxygen or glucose that blood brings, brain cells can die and the resulting damage can cause impairment in speech, movement and memory.

There are two types of strokes:
• Ischemic strokes, which account for about 75% of all strokes, occur when a clot or thrombus forms, disrupting the flow of blood to the brain, or when a free-floating clot or embolus is carried to the brain.
• A haemorrhagic stroke is caused when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Both result in a lack of blood flow to the brain, and death in the area of the brain supplied by that vessel. How would I be able to tell when someone is having a stroke? Within minutes of having a stroke, brain cells can begin to die, so the quicker you react the better – it can be crucial to someone’s recovery.

Some of the symptoms are:
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm and leg on one side of the body
• Trouble talking or understanding speech
• Dimness, blurring or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Unexplained dizziness, difficulty walking or sudden falls
• Confusion

How does mechanical embolectomy compare to the traditional treatment of strokes?
The traditional treatment for ischemic strokes is tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), which is a clot-dissolving drug. It cannot be used on everyone; it must be used within four-and-a-half hours of the stroke’s onset; and it will rarely dissolve a large clot. On the other hand, a mechanical embolectomy involves a tiny titanium and nickel stent, which opens the affected artery to restore blood flow to the brain. This treatment allows for an eight-hour window of opportunity, which can significantly reduce the risk of after effects of the stroke.

Read more about mechanical embolectomy in my next blog. If you have any questions you’d like answered, post them in the comment box or visit www.facebook.com/MediclinicSouthernAfrica

 

 

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.