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“Time is Brain” is a stoke phrase that explains the importance of receiving prompt care if you are experiencing stroke symptoms. When a patient comes to the hospital with stroke symptoms, it is crucial to make a proper diagnosis quickly in order to begin treatment. Immediate treatment can help avoid or minimize the effects of stroke. Physicians Regional Healthcare System’s experienced stroke team strives to deliver timely life-saving care.
Neurointerventional surgeons, Nasser Razack, M.D., J.D. and Mazen AbuAwad, M.D. speak on the three main factors Physicians Regional Healthcare System utilizes for stroke patients; Speed, Knowledge, and Technology.
Speed: Treatments given during the first three hours after a stroke can greatly reduce or even reverse the effects of stroke, so our stroke care professionals are ready to jump into action immediately. “Time is critical when treating a stroke because a person can lose up to 2 million nerve cells every minute they don’t receive medical treatment for stroke. Thus getting to a hospital as early as possible to restore proper blood flow to the brain is essential,” Dr. Razack states.
Knowledge: Our physicians, nurses, and emergency professionals and other stroke specialists meet a high education standard. They are specially trained to identify stroke symptoms and administer the latest treatments. Dr. Razack describes Neurointerventional Surgery as a medical subspecialty that uses minimally invasive catheter-based technology and radiological imaging to diagnose and treat diseases of the central nervous system. To perform these procedures, the practitioner needs an extensive knowledge of the anatomy of the nervous system, vasculature and pathological conditions that affect their physiology. Typically, Neurointerventional Surgeon completes a dedicated fellowship in addition to completing a medical residency program to gain this specialized training.
Technology: Our Stroke care team utilizes advanced testing and imaging technology, allowing them to identify the type of stroke a patient is having within minutes. Dr. AbuAwad explains that there have been many technological advances in the endovascular treatment options for stroke, but the success of endovascular thrombectomy is due to the development of newer generation devices, stent retrievers and specialized aspiration catheters. Prior to these devices, the endovascular treatment of stroke had a limited success rate.
“The use of these devices served a pivotal role in improving the success and safety of endovascular procedures,” Dr. AbuAwad states, “These devices have allowed us to improve reperfusion rates to occluded regions of the brain while simultaneously reducing procedural complications. Additionally, they have the potential to reach blood clots located within more distal regions of the brain, reduce procedure time, and improve revascularization rates which ultimately leads to a better outcome for patients.”
We treat all types of strokes, however the most concerning type seen in Naples is large vessel occlusion stroke. This type of stroke needs to be treated quickly and effectively as possible because large vessel occlusion strokes account for 90% of the societal cost for ischemic stroke, 80% of poor functional outcome for ischemic stroke and all acute ischemic stroke death. Because very few hospitals treat large vessel acute ischemic stroke, it is important to deliver these patients to hospitals that can deliver life-saving treatments as quickly as possible. Stroke care begins with diagnosis and continues with therapy, including timely infusion of intravenous clot dissolving medications to treat ischemic strokes.
Our Stroke care extends through recovery. Dr. Razack and Dr. AbuAwad strongly believe that recovery time is related to the severity of stroke. However, even severe strokes, if treated quickly can result in very short recovery times. Rehabilitation care is designed to help individuals regain their independence, and includes specialized services for stroke recovery. Our multidisciplinary rehabilitation team provides caring, personalized assistance to help patients meet their goals.
Physicians Regional – Pine Ridge is a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA). This designation is based on standards set by the AHCA that distinguishes hospital with infrastructure, staff and training to receive and treat patients with all types of strokes. Both Physicians Regional Healthcare System locations are AHCA Primary Stroke Centers. Imaging, operating room, and endovascular services are available 24/7.
To learn more about our stroke care, please visit https://www.physiciansregional.com/stroke-care.