Carilion Clinic’s stroke team saves man’s life in 12 minutes

 

 At least this is close to the three minutes like research in mice proves?

Electrical 'storms' and 'flash floods' drown the brain after a stroke

 In this research in mice the needed time frame for tPA delivery is 3 minutes for full recovery.

 If your hospital can't do that, what is their backup plan to get you 100% recovered? You better ask them that now instead of hoping they can 'wing it' when you need it!

The latest here:

Carilion Clinic’s stroke team saves man’s life in 12 minutes

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - In a heartwarming tribute to the heroes of Carilion Clinic’s Stroke Team, one man is thanking them for getting him help in record time, shedding light on the importance of swift medical intervention during a stroke.

In only 12 minutes – Carilion Clinic’s Stroke Team saved Robert Wade’s life.

“It’s hard to believe that they’re that good,” explained Wade. “But they did it.”

It was October 2023. Wade was doing laundry when he fell to the ground.

“It just hit me all at once,” added Wade. “So, it took me about a minute to realize I was not going to be able to get back to my feet.”

Wade was having a stroke. He was flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and arrived 2 minutes before noon.

“I was thinking the whole time, I hope that I’m able to... walk again with my with a cane,” said Wade.

By 12:10 p.m., the medics completed the door-to-needle care, meaning they found the blocked blood supply to the brain and administered medication.(So how did they determine this was a clot that fast? That could be useful to other stroke hospitals!)

“For American Stroke Association guidelines, it should be 60 minutes or less, regardless of what hospital you’re in,” explained Carilion Clinic Stroke Program Manager R.N. Pam Flinchum. “We did it in 12. So, it just gives you an idea of where we stand as far as our timing.”

Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke in the US. Doctors say anyone can have a stroke, even children and young adults. So, recognizing the symptoms and getting the care you need is essential.

“Every minute, nearly 2 million brain cells are lost during a stroke,” said Carilion Clinic Stroke Program Co-Director M.D. Biraj Patel. “And so there is a significant cost that happens with every minute that’s passed in the patient outcome.”

Strokes are one of the leading causes of disabilities and to recognize the symptoms, remember BE FAST. If you lose Balance, Eyesight, Face and Arm movement, or Speech then it’s Time to call for help.

“When a stroke is left untreated, or there’s a delay in treatment, that can result in a more permanent deficit, which can involve being completely dependent on other folks to take care of you, and even death,” explained Patel.

Being back on his feet - Wade is grateful for the care he received.

“Thanks for their dedication and everything that they do day in and day out to help people,” said Wade.

That makes every minute count when time matters most.

“We put a lot of work in this program,” said Flinchum. “And that just shows that this is exactly the outcomes we want every day.”

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital is a Joint Commission-certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center.