About 87 percent of all strokes are what are known as ischemic strokes. These occur when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain temporarily. This can cause temporary or permanent disability, including problems processing speech. In the past, it was often uncertain whether or not recovery would occur. Even if it did, it would often be months of anguishing supervision and senior care while the victim slowly relearned the skills the needed to care for themselves again. Things like in-home care help, but the results were still uncertain. Stroke treatment is changing though, and the forecast for those recovering is getting better and better thanks to new treatments.
A few months ago, we wrote about something called stent retrievers, and how they carried the possibility to more effectively treat ischemic strokes than ever before. Now, after further research has been done and the use of this method has been put into practice, doctors are saying that this treatment has the possibility to “effectively reverse” a stroke. Stent retrievers are able to remove clots, and are deployed through a catheter starting in the groin, which is then maneuvered through various arteries up to the brain. Once the clot is reached, the endovascular specialist performing the procedure deploys the stent retriever, and the clot is pushed against the wall of the blood vessel and normal blood flow is restored. The clot can be obtained at this point, and when the catheter is removed, the clot comes out, too.
For stroke specialists, this technology has achieved what has been called a “paradigm shift.” And so far, the results have been extremely positive. When applied quickly, this kind of treatment can prevent much of the long term disability that we have so often associated with the occurrence of a stroke. If you already have a parent or grandparent dealing with the repercussions of a stroke, you already know how long and frustrating the road to recovery is. You might not even be able to help care for them yourself, and may require the use of a professional in-home care specialist. Regardless of the severity of their stroke, you know what it’s like to go through this as a family member, and you have seen first hand how it can instantly change the lives of an entire family. Having a more effective treatment is an exciting thing, especially if it can save the families of future stroke victims the pain that your family has gone through.
What’s even more encouraging is that the newest versions of these stent retrievers are having far better results than the earlier models did. Before, results were only slightly improved, or sometimes even the same, as existing methods. However, the newest generation of stent retriever is putting out results far better than the original models, and more improvements are likely in the future. Improving the situations in which these are given will also benefit future stroke victims, especially if paramedics are trained in their usage, or if there are more treatment centers established that can effectively use stent retrievers.
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