Cleveland Clinic performs first FDA-approved surgery for stroke recovery in Ohio

 WOW! And you're proud of that? Vagus nerve stimulation for recovery has been out there for over a decade.  YOU'RE ACTUALLY FUCKING INCOMPETENT!

And proud of your incompetence!

• vagus nerve (70 posts to July 2012)

Send me personal hate mail on this: oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name(If you can't stand by your name don't bother replying anonymously) and my response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled mind? No excuses are allowed! You're medically trained; it should be simple to precisely state EXACTLY WHY you aren't working on 100% recovery protocols with NO EXCUSES!

Cleveland Clinic performs first FDA-approved surgery for stroke recovery in Ohio

Restaurant owner Tommy Fello regains movement after groundbreaking vagus nerve stimulator implant paired with intensive rehabilitation.

CLEVELAND — More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year, with nearly half of survivors living with physical disabilities. For decades, rehabilitation has been the only option for recovery, but a new FDA-approved surgical procedure is offering hope to stroke survivors who have exhausted traditional therapy options.

Tommy Fello, owner of Tommy's restaurant in Coventry, became the first patient in Ohio to receive the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implant at Cleveland Clinic after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day 2023. The stroke caused the left side of his body to be paralyzed, forcing him to rely on his family and 65 employees to keep his 53-year-old restaurant running.

"I was scared out of my mind," Fello said, describing the moment he realized he couldn't move his left arm or leg. "When you have a business, you have a responsibility to all these people that work for you."

The procedure involves implanting a small device in the chest, similar to a pacemaker, with a wire that wraps around the vagus nerve in the neck. During rehabilitation exercises, the device sends electrical pulses to stimulate brain pathways, potentially helping create new neural connections.Dr. Mark Bain, the Cleveland Clinic neurologist who performed Fello's surgery, explained the procedure takes about an hour with small incisions in the neck and below the collarbone.

"All we had to do was find that nerve which sits below the carotid artery, wrap this little stimulator around it and hook it up to a battery," Bain said.

The surgery is only the beginning. Patients must complete six to eight weeks of intensive occupational therapy, attending 90-minute sessions three times per week while the stimulator is activated. They also use a handheld magnet to trigger 30-minute stimulation sessions during daily activities at home.

Four months after his procedure, Fello has regained enough function to drive his truck, walk up stairs to his restaurant office and interact with customers and staff. While his movements remain limited, requiring assistance from his unaffected right arm, he can now perform basic tasks that seemed impossible after his stroke.

"Taking a shower, washing your face, shaving, going to the bathroom by yourself -- everyone takes advantage of the simplest things," Fello said. "The implant has given me the hope that it won't have to always be this way."

Cleveland Clinic has now performed eight VNS procedures for stroke recovery, with about 10 more patients scheduled. The treatment is available to stroke survivors with upper extremity weakness, typically at least six months post-stroke, though some patients have received the implant years after their initial stroke.

Candidates must undergo evaluation by occupational therapy and rehabilitation specialists to determine if they fall within the appropriate range -- having some arm function that can potentially be amplified, but not so much that surgery isn't warranted.

Clinical studies showed approximately 25% of patients who received the implant paired with rehabilitation experienced meaningful functional improvement after 90 days. The device builds on existing uses of vagus nerve stimulation, which has been used for years to treat seizure disorders. "As a medical specialty, we do a really good job taking care of patients in the acute phase when they're having a stroke," Bain said. "But when you look at after you've had the stroke and if you do have symptoms at six months or something like that, there's not a lot for you."The procedure represents the only FDA-approved surgery specifically for stroke recovery, though insurance coverage remains inconsistent. Researchers are exploring whether the technology might help with other stroke-related deficits beyond arm weakness, including speech difficulties and lower extremity function.For Fello, the procedure has provided more than physical improvement. The forced slowdown from his previous schedule of working seven days a week, 14-15 hours daily, has allowed him to spend more time with his five daughters and 14 grandchildren. "God said, you know what, slow down," Fello reflected. "You have a beautiful family, beautiful grandkids. It took a stroke to make me remember that nothing's more important than family." While long-term outcomes remain unknown since the procedure is relatively new, approximately 700 patients have received the implant across the United States. Stroke survivors interested in learning more can contact Cleveland Clinic's Cerebrovascular Center or consult with their rehabilitation physician.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, with someone experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds. The American Heart Association emphasizes the need for improved access to post-stroke rehabilitation, particularly in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

Potential candidates can learn more HERE.