Advanced Treatments for Stroke
Stroke is a medical emergency that affects the brain. It is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Healthcare professionals know "time lost is brain lost," so as soon as you recognize the signs of stroke in yourself or a loved one, it's important to call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital as soon as possible.
When a potential stroke patient arrives, a stroke response team assesses the patient and conducts specific tests to determine if he or she has had a stroke, what is happening in the brain and what treatment options will provide the best outcome.
A clot-busting medication called tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) has been a common treatment for patients suffering acute ischemic strokes. tPA is most effective when it's given within three hours of the start of stroke symptoms; therefore, it is very important to note the time the stroke patient began experiencing symptoms.
The severity of the stroke may impact how long someone remains in the hospital. Upon discharge, patients may need to spend time in a rehabilitation center (available at Spring Valley and Summerlin Hospitals), an outpatient rehabilitation program or home health. The physician and case manager will work with patients and their families to determine the best options.
For more information about stroke, visit www.IchooseValleyHealthSystem.com.
Regaining Motion
Gerard Killeen, now 78, suffered a serious stroke in 2007 that left him unable to move his right arm and leg. He made some progress with intensive inpatient, home-based and outpatient rehabilitation therapies, but was still unable to do many normal daily activities.
His therapists at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center recommended the hospital's new NESS H200® hand rehabilitation system as part of his therapy. During treatments, Killeen wears a bracelike device on his arm. It delivers electrical impulses to stimulate his nerves, causing his hand and forearm to move.
The system allows him to perform repetitive hand and arm strengthening exercises and to practice grasping objects and other tasks (shown at right). These activities help retrain his muscles and brain so he can better control his movements.
Summerlin Hospital recently purchased a similar system for the lower extremities. Killeen is using that device to enhance movement in his right leg. "I'm making slow but steady progress," he said. "I recently passed the test for my driver's license so I can drive using my left foot."
Killeen is very optimistic about his recovery. "Teri Rexroat, Christa Carlomusto, Jeff Scott and other members of the hospital's rehabilitation staff have been wonderful. They're very knowledgeable, caring and efficient," he said. "They've encouraged me from the beginning and helped me achieve small victories. I'm still working to get better because I want to be able to do everything -- walk, go out to eat and enjoy my life!"
For more information on Summerlin Hospital's comprehensive rehabilitation services, call 702-233-7470.
Primary Stroke Centers
Spring Valley Hospital, located in southwest Las Vegas, and Valley Hospital, located in central Las Vegas, have both achieved certification as Primary Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission.Potential Signs of Stroke
Sudden onset of one or more of these symptoms may indicate that you are having a stroke and should call 9-1-1:
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Severe headache with no known cause
Source: American Heart Association
Restoring Blood Flow
Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center has a new Penumbra SystemTM that allows doctors to perform a catheterization-based treatment up to eight hours after stroke symptoms begin. Doctors thread a catheter through a patient's body to the blockage, insert a special instrument to dislodge the clot and then use an innovative suction device to remove it."Penumbra gives us another tool to treat acute strokes, open blocked vessels in the brain and improve patient outcomes," said Raj Agrawal, MD, an interventional neuroradiologist for Desert Springs Hospital. "It gives us another option when they arrive at the hospital too late to receive tPA (a clot-busting medication) or when tPA doesn't dissolve clots completely. The system opens clogged arteries in about 70 percent of patients."
