Most strokes are a type called acute ischemic stroke. This type of stroke is caused by a blockage of blood to the brain, usually in the form of a blood clot. In the past, a clot-busting medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) had been the only approved treatment for this kind of stroke since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1995. This was a huge advance for stroke care, but we needed more. Now, we have a powerful procedure—with more than six level I randomized studies that support it use—that we can use alongside tPA to save more lives and brain function for our patients. It’s called mechanical thrombectomy, and it’s one of the emergency stroke treatments we offer in our Center.
Mechanical thrombectomy can have huge benefits to patients who have had a stroke. Not only can this procedure increase the chance that we can save their lives, but patients are much more likely to avoid some of the devastating complications that can come after a stroke, such as paralysis, being bedridden or being unable to speak.
