Due to innovations being pioneered and practiced at USA Health, including clinical trials involving new medications, the window to receive treatment for a stroke continues to grow wider in order to prevent or reverse damage to the patient. New guidelines show that the "golden window" when doctors can minimize or prevent permanent damage has expanded from six to 24 hours.
When a patient arrives presenting the signs of a stroke, our team typically performs a CT (computed tomography) scan to look for signs of hemorrhaging. If a hemorrhage is indicated, we administer medication to control the bleed. Further diagnostic tests help determine if the ruptured vessel needs surgery to repair or should be left to heal on its own.
If the initial CT scan shows no signs of a hemorrhage, the patient receives a clot-busting medication intravenously. A CT angiogram is then performed to determine the location and size of the clot. The patient could be a candidate for a thrombectomy, a noninvasive procedure to retrieve the clot. A CT perfusion scan can help doctors determine any damage caused to brain tissue surrounding the clot.
After the Stroke
Depending on damage that may have occurred, stroke patients may need physical, occupational or speech therapy rehabilitation afterwards. If rehab is needed, our case workers ensure that patients receive therapy on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Then, at 30 days and 90 days post-stroke, our neurologists and neurosurgeons see patients for follow-up care at the Strada Patient Care Center or Canton Road clinic locations.
