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Neurology and Neuroscience
Treatment for Stroke
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Surgery, Treatment and Rehabilitation for Stroke at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Stroke
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is one of the leading institutions in acute stroke revascularization, a relatively new treatment for ischemic stroke.
If a patient with ischemic stroke arrives at the hospital more than three hours after the onset of stroke symptoms, doctors may use surgical procedures to mechanically remove a blockage in the brain vessel.
With this type of procedure, known as acute stroke revascularization, doctors insert a tiny microcatheter into a lower limb blood vessel and guide it to the blockage in the brain artery.
They then use either the MERCI or Penumbra system (or in some cases both) to reopen the artery. Small doses of tPA can also be delivered through the microcatheter to help break up the clot.
- The MERCI Retriever is a tiny corkscrew-like device that can be threaded through the circulatory system and into an artery near the surface of the brain to ensnare and remove a clot.
- The Penumbra system is a device that is threaded through the circulatory system to the site of the clot in the brain where it is used to dislodge the clot and remove it with a suction device.
Surgical Treatment for Hemorrhagic Stroke
Patients with larger brain hemorrhages may need to undergo surgery to relieve pressure within the skull caused by bleeding.
If the hemorrhagic stroke resulted from a weakened area in a blood vessel wall (an aneurysm) or defective blood vessel, neurosurgeons can repair these areas to prevent further strokes.
They may also be able to redirect blood flow to other vessels that supply the same region of the brain.
Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients
The Rehabilitation Medicine Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is one of the largest in the nation.
Our physicians, occupational and physical therapists, speech language pathologists, certified therapeutic recreation specialists, rehabilitation nurses and support staff are committed to providing the highest quality care to stroke patients.
Although there is no cure for stroke, most victims now have a good chance for survival and recovery. Immediate treatment, supportive care and rehabilitation can all improve the quality of life for stroke victims.
