A massive lie buried in the article!
A new weapon against stroke arrives in North Carolina
More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke every year, and about 87% of these are ischemic strokes, which occur when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Many will make a full recovery(ABSOLUTELY WRONG! Only 10% full recovery)
— but others will experience loss of speech or movement, or even loss of life. The likelihood of injury to the brain increases the longer stroke goes untreated, which is why prompt treatment is critical. A newly FDA-cleared clot-removal system, called THUNDERBOLT, is designed to help physicians remove certain stroke-causing clots quickly and completely.
Novant Health is the first health system in North Carolina to use THUNDERBOLT. Neurosurgeon Dr. Justin Cappuzzo, who cares for patients at the Novant Health Deloris P. Jordan Neurosciences Institute in Wilmington, recently became the first doctor in North Carolina to use it — and the first in the world to perform the THUNDERBOLT procedure through an artery in the wrist instead of the groin, a less-invasive approach that may offer benefits for patients.
“It’s a fantastic tool in the arsenal we have to treat strokes,” Cappuzzo said. Here he explains more about how THUNDERBOLT works, what it could mean for patients and why recognition of stroke symptoms remains essential.
Award-winning stroke care in your hometown.
What happens in the brain during a stroke, and why does restoring blood flow quickly matter so much?
There are two types of strokes:
- Ischemic. These are caused by a blood clot in an artery that brings blood to the brain.
- Hemorrhagic. These occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding in or around the brain.
Whatever type of stroke you have, some part of your brain will either lose blood flow entirely or experience a reduced amount of blood flow. Time is precious when treating a stroke. After a certain amount of time without blood, your brain cells will begin to die. The sooner you can get treatment, the better your likelihood of a full recovery is.(Really, you have plans to get tPA delivered in 3 minutes?
Can you get tPA delivered in 3 minutes? In this research in mice the needed time frame for tPA delivery is 3 minutes for full recovery.
Electrical 'storms' and 'flash floods' drown the brain after a stroke)
How are strokes treated once a patient arrives at the hospital?
Treatment depends on the type of stroke, when symptoms began, imaging findings and the patient’s medical history.
For ischemic strokes caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow in a vessel, there are two possible treatment types: clot-busting medication, called alteplase, or procedural removal of the clot, called mechanical thrombectomy. Some patients may qualify for both treatments, while others will only qualify for one. The stroke team at any hospital will determine the safest, most effective approach.
The THUNDERBOLT is a mechanical thrombectomy device specifically designed to treat ischemic strokes. Guided through a thin tube inserted through the wrist or groin, the tool senses when it reaches the clot, then uses carefully controlled suction to loosen and remove it.
How does THUNDERBOLT differ from previous clot-removal techniques using mechanical thrombectomy, and what potential benefits could those differences offer patients?
Traditional clot-removal devices use steady suction to pull out a blood clot. If the clot is firmly stuck, doctors may need to make multiple attempts or use additional tools and devices, like metal stents, to remove it.
THUNDERBOLT can sense when it reaches the clot and automatically adjusts the suction many times each second. Instead of pulling with one constant force, it rapidly alternates the suction to help loosen the clot from the blood vessel before removing it. Think of it like gently wiggling a cork loose instead of pulling on it with constant force.
You performed the first THUNDERBOLT procedure via wrist access in the world. What does clot removal through the wrist mean for patient experience and recovery?
There is a lower likelihood of bleeding at the entry site posttreatment. Patients can sit up and walk around immediately after the procedure, and there is less pain after the procedure. We’re also removing clots faster than the national average when combining THUNDERBOLT technology with an approach through the wrist, giving patients their best chance at a strong recovery from stroke.
What does having the THUNDERBOLT technology at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center mean for patients across coastal North Carolina?
Patients across the coast have access to world-class stroke care, right here in Wilmington. We have an opportunity to not only save more lives, but to preserve healthy brain tissue and set patients up for the best recovery possible. (Both Dr. Justin Cappuzzo and Dr. Jeffrey Beecher have completed specialized training to allow them to perform these procedures.)
What stroke warning signs should patients and families recognize, and what should they do as soon as symptoms appear?
The most common warning signs of a stroke include slurred or garbled speech, drooping of the face on one side, and weakness on one side of the body. As soon as you notice these symptoms, it’s imperative to get help right away by calling emergency services.
You can use the BE FAST acronym created by the American Stroke Association to help you recognize a stroke and act quickly:
- B - Balance loss
- E - Eye (vision) changes
- F - Facial drooping
- A - Arm weakness
- S - Speech difficulty
- T - Time to call 911
Key takeaway: Empower yourself to recognize a stroke using the BE FAST warning signs and call 911 immediately if you suspect a stroke, even if you are uncertain or the symptoms begin to improve. “Every second counts for brain cell preservation,” Cappuzzo said.
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